Can you give me an insight into your personal journey into the asset services industry, why did you decide this was the career for you?
My career began in investment banking, where I covered a wide range of financial institutions, from insurance brokers through to financial technology firms. This early experience gave me strong exposure to the diverse and wide-ranging financial services ecosystem, as well as an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities faced across the industry.
I was then presented with the opportunity to join the strategy team at Broadridge, a leading technology and services provider powering the financial services industry. This was my first real introduction to the asset servicing space, and it was an exciting time to join as the space continues to go through rapid transformation. At present, we have been focused on growing our international franchise and positioning Broadridge as the industry partner of choice for asset servicing transformation.
Working within a strategy function in such a dynamic space has been particularly rewarding. It has given me a broad, cross-industry perspective, enabling me to deepen my understanding of the asset servicing industry, the key challenges it faces, and how Broadridge can partner with clients to drive greater efficiency and innovation. The asset servicing space offers a rare combination of complexity, scale, and transformational potential — exactly the kind of environment in which I want to build my career!
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
What I enjoy most about my role is the variety — as clichéd as it may sound, no two days are the same. The work is wide ranging, often complex, and always interesting, and I really get to see the impact of the work I do across our organisation.
Another aspect that I truly value is the opportunity to work with such talented colleagues from across the organisation. Everyone brings their own expertise, perspective, and ideas to the table, and that diversity of thought not only strengthens the outcomes we deliver but also keeps me energised and inspired every day.
In short, it is the combination of varied, meaningful work and working alongside exceptional people that makes my role so enjoyable.
Being fairly new to the industry, how do you find your experience compares to those who are more established? Are there pros and cons to each?
I am very fortunate to work alongside seasoned industry professionals whose depth of knowledge and lived experience are invaluable. These are individuals who have witnessed, and in many cases shaped, the evolution of the asset servicing industry. Being able to draw on their insights every day has been immensely beneficial to my professional development. The clear advantage for those more established in their careers is the breadth and depth of experience they bring. Naturally, the flip side is that longstanding ways of operating can sometimes be harder to change.
Equally, as someone relatively early in my career, I bring a fresh perspective and a different way of approaching challenges, which can be a real advantage during times of rapid transformation. Of course, the trade-off is having less first-hand experience to call upon. However, one of the great strengths of our team is that all perspectives are genuinely valued — and it is this blend of fresh thinking and lived experience that drives effective collaboration and enables us to deliver the best outcomes for our clients
Have you noticed any misconceptions about the asset servicing industry? Is there anything in the industry you would like to see evolve or change?
One of the bigger misconceptions around asset servicing is that it is a purely back office function driven by manual operational touchpoints. In reality, we are seeing large investments to drive rapid innovation, where technology is transforming how services are consumed and the value delivered to underlying clients.
We are seeing major advancements in automation and straight-through processing, often powered by AI and machine learning, which help to eliminate manual intervention, reduce settlement risk, and speed up processing times. At the same time, blockchain and distributed ledger technology are paving the way for faster, more transparent, and more secure transaction lifecycles. This level of innovation not only drives efficiency and reduced risk but also positions asset servicing as a key enabler of change across the wider financial ecosystem. I would like to see the industry continue to build on this momentum, embracing new tools and approaches that make processes smarter, client outcomes better, and the industry itself even more forward-looking.
What is the training process of a new employee? Do you think it was beneficial to your role and others who may now be in the same position you were?
At Broadridge, there is a real focus on making sure new associates feel welcomed and supported from day one. The onboarding process is not just about understanding your role, but also about knowing the wide network of people and resources available across the organisation to help you succeed. That foundation is incredibly valuable in ensuring that you feel well equipped to tackle your responsibilities early on.
What I found particularly beneficial was the openness and accessibility across the firm. Broadridge has a culture where people are genuinely willing to share knowledge and offer guidance, which made it much easier for me to get up the steep learning curve when I first joined. Of course, in a large organisation it is impossible to know everything, but the relationships you build are key in knowing where to turn for answers. That collaborative culture not only accelerated my own development but also ensures that anyone coming has the support needed to thrive.
In terms of your career, where do you see yourself in a decade?
A decade is a long time, and it is always difficult to predict with certainty what the future holds. What I do know is that since graduating from university I have built my career in financial services, and it remains an industry that excites me with its breadth, pace of change, and constant stream of opportunities. I fully expect this will be the space I continue to operate in over the long term.
Broadridge has been a brilliant environment for me because it sits right at the intersection of finance and technology. I have seen first hand how innovation in technology and operations can have a meaningful impact and ultimately enable better financial lives for people, and that’s an inspiring mission to be part of. While I have spent my time at Broadridge focused on strategy, I anticipate that at some point I will want to move deeper into a specific product domain, which presents a different kind of challenge and learning opportunity. My hope is that, wherever my path leads, I will continue building on these experiences and contribute to the evolution of the industry.
What advice would you give to young graduates when entering the financial services field?
My advice to young graduates would be, first and foremost, to remember that your career is a long journey. There is no need to place too much pressure on yourself to know exactly where you want to end up straight away. Instead, focus on applying yourself fully every day, taking on the opportunities in front of you, and over time the areas that really interest and energise you will naturally become clear.
I would also encourage graduates to embrace who they are and the unique perspective they bring. Diversity of thought is the bedrock of a strong culture and is essential for solving the kinds of complex problems faced in financial services. Finally, make the most of the people around you. Seek out those with more experience, learn from their insights, and build your network because strong relationships are invaluable, and they will support your growth throughout your career.
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Temenos
Mick Fennell
Image: Broadridge 
