Who We Are
WM Nexus is a UK-based strategic consultancy connecting single family offices, ultra-high net-worth and high-net investors with investment opportunities in the fast growing ESG (environmental, social and governance) and impact investing sector, as well as in mainstream diversified investment opportunities.
The company was formed as a limited partnership in 2018 by two female entrepreneurs, Wendy Marston and Alina Legendi. They sought to deploy their skills and experience in project management, marketing and financial services and their extensive connections across the investment sector to meet the growing demand from high net worth investors and family offices for ESG and impact investments.
WM Nexus is London-based but with a global reach, and is sector and region agnostic, looking rather at the value of the investment proposition and its ESG credentials, and across a diverse universe of investment vehicles and geographies. Whilst WM Nexus is active in promoting ESG investments, we also work with companies that have a strong core value system and do not go against our own values in environment and social responsibility.
Our Rationale
We believe the past two years have proved to be a watershed for ESG and impact investing. Institutional and private investors, who have many billions of dollars, euros and pounds to invest, are increasingly keen to deploy their capital to make a positive impact on society and the environment. Whilst for many this takes the form of philanthropy, others are looking to align most or all of their investment portfolios on this basis. We believe that the opportunities to make an impact while generating sustainable returns are increasing significantly.
Unfortunately, this nascent marketplace is still needing the development of strong ESG propositions, and at the same time, we recognise the need for existing good businesses are also in need of investment and support. We work only with businesses that are aligned with our own core values and do not support negative practices. We believe this allows investors to have strong diversified portfolios whilst driving change in a positive direction.
Our Focus
The primary focus of our firm is to connect investors with a range of ESG and impact investments which have the potential to meet their needs and desires in terms of making an impact while also generating decent returns. We also work with investment opportunities that have less developed ESG definitions at their core, but that adhere to a strong value system that supports and can lead to an ESG investment message.
We also aim to educate and inform our investors about ESG and impact investing, building on their existing knowledge base while facilitating the exchange of knowledge between investors and asset managers of all types.
Our Values
The investment world is increasingly determined to take the challenges facing the environment and society seriously and wants to drive change.
At the same time, the challenge is of such a scale that it will require the help, knowledge and, of course, the capital of the world’s investors to effect the changes needed. To take just one aspect of the challenge – shifting the world’s transport, homes and businesses to sustainable energy use – is a mammoth task. At the same time, and given the scale of task, we think there is also a huge range of opportunities. Innovative technology and efficient deployment of existing technology will define the next era.
As a private business ourselves, we assert that the private sector and investors have a significant and beneficial role to play. We believe we can play a part in harnessing the goodwill and expertise of the private sector and investors to do good for society, the environment and the world.
What We Do
We connect the full range of investment firms and asset managers including private equity houses, fund managers, fund of funds, wealth managers, investment trusts and hedge funds to investors via intimate, targeted and carefully curated events. The assets and investments cover most asset classes including liquid and illiquid assets and invest in everything from collectibles to real estate. The investors, including single and multi-family offices, HNW and UHNW individuals and trusted advisors, are hand selected from both ours and our partners’ networks, to ensure a close-knit peer group. We look to add value by facilitating strong beneficial relationships.
We are a UK based business but with global reach. We host investor salons across Europe, including Switzerland, Germany and the UK, as well as other parts of the world including Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
How We Work
We have an extensive range of partners with whom we maintain regular contact in order to discuss opportunities and their changing needs and requirements.
We maintain a watching brief on the range of regulatory initiatives and new sources of ESG, sustainable and impact investing information. We also monitor the fast-developing range of opportunities across asset management businesses including private equity, hedge funds, open mutual funds and closed investment companies and in every possible type of business sector where ESG integration or impact investing can bring benefits.
Our network of investors are often seeking investment opportunities in specific sectors and themes. Through regular dialogue we keep abreast of our investors’ interests.
Our events are by invitation only and are carefully curated to ensure the purity of the peer group and a high level of sophistication on the subject matter.
We exercise the highest levels of discretion, though observations may be used to generate general industry commentary on trends and developments. We may release research material to the media with the agreement and approval of our participants and speakers.
Partners
Wendy Marston
Co-founder
Wendy Marston is the co-founder of WM Nexus. Wendy has two decades of experience working with private clients, advisers and wealth management professionals, creating opportunities for education and networking. She has forged a wide range of connections and contacts within wealth management, private client advisory and investments, as well as HNW, UHNW & family offices.
Wendy is passionate about supporting and facilitating the communication between investors and family offices and strong investment propositions, in light of the rapidly growing opportunities within ESG and impact investing.
Alina Legendi
Co-founder
Alina Legendi is the co-founder of WM Nexus. Alina has worked as a consultant specialising in connecting UK, European and global asset managers with family offices and high-net-worth private investors. Prior to co-founding WM Nexus, Alina worked for 10 years for a UK publishing company focused on the wealth management industry, first as a business development director and then as an independent consultant. Alina has worked with a number of UK-based private equity houses helping their fundraising efforts and specialising in VC, seed investing and early stage capital from among HNW and UHNW investors.
Alina is passionate about addressing climate change and other environmental issues. She believes that impact investing can deliver both significant improvements but also offer consistent long-term returns for investors