«The idea of our company’s name was taken from the large red metal wheel in the centre of the offices»

On Tuesday, 07.11.2023, I met Tord Stallvik for a coffee at the Redwheel offices in the heart of the City of London. The conversation was very interesting, he also told me about his meetings with Condoleezza Rice. I learnt a lot of life and business wisdom from Tord. Thomas J. Caduff, CEO, Fundplat LLC

• Caduff: Mr. Stallvik, why is your company called Redwheel?

Stallvik: In 2006 we launched our UCITS fund range, leading to an expansion into Europe and a change of name; in 2008 MPC became RWC Partners. The idea of Red Wheel Capital (RWC) was taken from the large red metal wheel in the centre of the offices that had previously been stables for nearby military barracks. The red wheel had originally operated as the old stable’s winch. Legend has it the winch was used to lift the military horses up and into the first-floor stables. The horses are long gone but these same stables comfortably housed many of our investment teams for a decade. In 2022 we decided to rename as Redwheel while the legal name is still RWC Partners Ltd.

• Caduff: You like Condoleezza Rice’s book. Redwheel has also a cooperation with Dr. Rice, how do you work with her?

Stallvik: We have been working with Dr. Rice and her partners at Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC. for over a decade. We maintain a strategic advisory relationship with this firm which provides us with ongoing counsel on a broad range of political, policy, risk assessment and commercial and regulatory matters in emerging- and frontier markets; helping us to position our portfolios.

• Caduff: What makes Redwheel different or better than its competitors?

Redwheel is a specialist, independent, investment organization with a clear purpose. Tord Stallvik

Stallvik: Redwheel is a specialist, independent, investment organization with a clear purpose: To invest with conviction, for current and future generations and the world in which we all live. Our private and majority employee-owned structure has allowed us to build a strong and stable organisation that is both long term and reliable. Our management team is independent of our investment teams, which means that no one part of the business has a dominant view. Our governance and risk functions operate independently, and our business is itself independent. Our investment teams operate with a high degree of investment autonomy and we have no Chief Investment Officer (CIO) or house view. We strongly believe that active fund managers should be given the freedom to deliver the best possible long-term outcomes for clients.