Hong Kong-based BEA Union Investment Management is well-positioned to launch client-specific innovative products and incorporate artificial intelligence into its functions.
A strategic corporate approach backed by strong leadership, innovation and operational excellence has earned Janet Li, its chief executive officer, Asia Asset Management’s 2026 Best of the Best Awards for CEO of the Year (Hong Kong) and Pensions Leader of the Year (Hong Kong).
Li, who joined BEA Union Investment in 2023, says that the company has made significant strides in diversifying its product offerings and expanding its client base.
BEA Union Investment’s achievements include the recent launch of an all-weather fund that invests in a globally diversified portfolio, as well as an artificial intelligence thematic strategy. The company’s rapidly expanding distribution channels and strategic partnerships with other financial institutions further underscore its success.
Three core values
Li attributes much of the company’s success to three core attributes – leadership, innovation and operational excellence.
On leadership, she notes that the company employs a collaborative approach that empowers its teams and encourages diverse perspectives, fostering an environment where innovation can thrive.
On operational excellence, Li explains that it involves aligning the company’s culture with disciplined execution to ensure every idea is transformed into tangible value for clients.
One example is the application of artificial intelligence. BEA Union Investment has actively applied AI for data analysis, which Li says has significantly enhanced the company’s overall investment process and streamlined sales and marketing operations.
“This mindset has been fundamental to BEA Union Investment’s growth and evolution,” Li says. “Ultimately, our leadership style is about turning opportunities into outcomes, and that sets BEA Union Investment apart.”
Li also emphasises the importance of forming strategic partnerships to unlock new opportunities, create shared values and achieve sustainable growth.
“By collaborating with fintech investors and regional institutions, we unlock opportunities that extend beyond our capabilities,” she says. “These partnerships allow us to bring new solutions to clients, expand into new markets and accelerate innovation.”
Exploring overseas opportunities
Looking ahead, Li notes that the company “sees tremendous opportunities” not only across Asia but also globally.
“By deepening partnerships with international institutions, accelerating digital transformation and expanding our product innovation, we’re positioning BEA Union Investment to capture growth wherever it emerges,” Li says.
“Partnership is our compass – it guides us to new markets, new innovations and new opportunities worldwide,” she says. “By staying true to this approach, we aim not only to sustain momentum but also to shape the future of asset management on the global stage.”
In China, BEA Union Investment is further strengthening its presence in the onshore market primarily through the Mutual Recognition of Funds (MRF) scheme.
Via the Northbound channel of the cross-border investment access, the company’s fund products can be widely distributed among Mainland investors particularly in the Greater Bay Area, which comprises Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in China’s southern Guangdong province.
Li notes that BEA Union Investment’s MRF products are well-received, consistently ranking among the top in their peer group, according to Morningstar Inc.
Additionally, the company is actively expanding its overseas footprint and exploring new distribution opportunities across various markets. Its client base has become increasingly diverse, now encompassing investors from Japan, the Middle East and Europe.
BEA Union Investment, a joint venture between Hong Kong’s Bank of East Asia and Germany’s Union Asset Management Holding AG, had around US$12 billion of assets under management as of March 2026.
