Anastasia Bloom is the newest senior member of the Salamanca Group team and brings with her 20 years’ international experience across investment banking, wealth management and investments. Born in St Petersburg and raised in Moscow she has a cum laude degree from Moscow State University in Economics, before going on to gain a masters in Finance from the London School of Economics. She joins as an advisor aiming to bring her extensive network to Salamanca Group and its real estate and corporate finance deal flow.
We sat down with Anastasia to discuss her background, her outlook on London’s current economic landscape and the future of the social housing sector.
Can you give a brief career history?
I started my career in investment banking at Credit Suisse in New York before moving to Cazenove in London, which was a very traditional UK corporate finance role. I moved to work in the Russian capital markets in 2004 as I saw an opportunity to put my skills and background towards a growing market with Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley. My role was later expanded at JP Morgan to include other emerging markets, namely the Middle East and Africa. My goal was always to focus on working with clients with an international remit.
What is the business confidence like in and towards Russia?
The years between 2003-2012 were interesting for Russian markets as it was a period of high growth which resulted in a lot of capital being channelled into the market, seeking to be international, which inevitably attracted interest in London. During my career I have been involved in directing a lot of interesting opportunities into the Russian market. I hope that the current political tensions will not last and the market will re-emerge on the international arena.
What do you see as the main challenges for the remainder of 2018 for the UK and London in particular?
I work with international capital and family offices and can see caution on an international scale towards doing business in the UK because of concerns surrounding Brexit and other political anxieties in the UK. However, London has an incredible financial eco-system, connected globally, with all international markets wanting to do business with the many prosperous and internationally renowned institutions that are based in London. It is important not to lose this connectivity. It is down to individual smaller players in the financial arena, such as Salamanca Group, to nurture the interconnectivity, ensuring London maintains its international momentum and remains a frontrunner.
With such an international career covering London, New York, Moscow, Dubai, Johannesburg, would you say it’s important to work abroad to gain a culturally diverse outlook for professional development?
It certainly helps. There is no better way of understanding business cultures than getting amongst them and experiencing the day-to-day interactions. It helps to be on the ground in that country to understand the nature of how business is conducted in those cultures, but, this is where the true beauty of London shines through. It has created a very welcoming environment for the international business community. Every day you come across different cultures and that is very unique. You can begin your day going for breakfast with a Turkish executive, influenced by the way they do business, then later have a coffee with a French family office and have an entirely different experience. London prides itself on its multi-cultural nature and this is certainly a magnet for international business.
From your experience of working with a range of start-ups to SMEs, what is your key advice to emerging businesses wanting to scale up in the current economic climate in the UK?
Each growth business is unique – I am always humbled by people who have built successful businesses. The most successful in my mind are those who are open to take advice and listen to suggestions – if you are grateful for help, others will offer it generously.
You’re also on the Board of ‘Homes for Haringey’, an Arm’s Length Management Organisation for Haringey Council. Tell us a bit more about your interests in the housing sector and why Haringey in particular?
I used to live in Haringey in North London so knew the area and when the opportunity came up the name clicked. I have been involved in property through various associations throughout my career. When the opportunity came up to sit on the board of a housing association, I saw this as an interesting prospect and learning opportunity. It gave me an immediate new angle into the social housing sector, which is not transparent for many people. I have a very high regard for people who work in the social housing sector. I am currently in my third year on the board and have been extremely humbled by those I have crossed paths with. They are attempting to solve real life problems and create communities to empower people’s lives.
What do you think the government should be doing to solve the housing crisis we have in Britain today? Have you seen any initiatives that prove to be having an effect?
Currently I think politics is standing in the way of improvement attempts – they have taken priority over the individual needs at the heart of the problem. I believe private initiatives are the way to go as they marry the interests of both worlds independent of political decisions. Salamanca Group’s Funding Affordable Homes initiative is a prime example of how private initiatives can be successful.
This article is part of our May 2018 Group Newsletter
To read the PDF version online, click here, or to read another article online, please follow one of these links:
UK Investment Climate by Martin Bellamy, CEO and Chairman
A new dawn in Cuba, and what to expect by Lord David Triesman, Group Director
Doing business with China – the importance of knowing the decision maker by ShaRon Kedar