The future takes some provisioning and foresight. Displaying both is Jean LaTorre, CIO of Guardian Life, whose work at the insurer has ensured stabilisation in what has been a tumultuous year.

At the same time, the insurance CIO has also been expanding into higher yielding assets—for example, bringing in emerging market debt to the fold at the end of last year—as well as setting a framework for ESG investing via the hire of its first ESG investment head.

In treading the tightrope of investing like a seasoned funambulist, LaTorre wins this year's CIO of the year award.