Following Hawksford’s recent success in being named ‘Fund Administrator of the Year: Client Services’ at the Private Equity Wire European Awards 2026, Simon Page, our Head of Fund Services, spoke to Private Equity Wire about what sets us apart from other service providers and how we are helping clients address current challenges and opportunities…
What is Hawksford’s service offering and what makes it special?
Hawksford is an international provider of Corporate, Private Client and Fund services. We have offices in key business locations and financial centres around the world, with more than 650 people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia and the Americas.
Backed by experienced leadership and regulatory credibility, our multijurisdictional funds team delivers specialist administration and governance services to a range of complex, long‑life structures. Our value lies in absorbing risk over time, managing complexity pragmatically, and supporting funds across their full lifecycle.
What are the three key selling points of your business and service range?
Expertise in complex, long‑life fund structures – We have deep experience supporting complex and long‑life fund structures across multiple market cycles. Our approach is grounded in sound judgement, continuity of service and a detailed understanding of each fund’s evolution over time. Our clients value working with a partner who brings perspective, consistency and insight throughout the full lifecycle of a fund, enabling informed decision‑making and effective stewardship from establishment through maturity.
Deep corporate memory and continuity that reduce risk – We have long‑term institutional knowledge of structures, investors, regulatory history and constraints significantly lowers execution and transition risk, particularly during restructurings or wind‑downs.
Experienced judgment within strong regulatory environments – Clients benefit from hands‑on senior engagement, pragmatic problem‑solving, and confident operation within stringent regulatory regimes such as Jersey, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands.
What economic forces – in Europe and/or globally – do you anticipate having the biggest impact on your business over the next 12 months? And how are you preparing for this?
Technology continues to be a vital enabler of high‑quality, resilient fund administration. Over the next 12 months, the most significant impact will come from the practical application of automation and AI across task‑ and workflow‑based processes, enhancing both efficiency and service quality.
AI is increasingly being embedded to support time‑intensive, repeatable activities, such as data validation, reconciliations, document review, exception handling and reporting workflows, allowing experienced teams to focus on oversight, judgement and client engagement. Rather than replacing human expertise, these capabilities can reshape service delivery models by improving accuracy, speed and consistency, while strengthening overall control environments.
At the same time, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and heightened cyber risk are sharpening client focus on data security, operational resilience and system robustness. Investment in secure platforms, controlled automation and transparent workflows provides clients with greater assurance that their fund operations remain stable and well‑governed, even in periods of market or political disruption.
Ultimately, the considered integration of AI within clearly defined workflows enables fund administrators to scale responsibly, enhance resilience and deliver more insightful, reliable outcomes, supporting long‑term client confidence in an increasingly complex global environment.
Hawksford’s approach to AI readiness has been deliberate, multi‑year and foundational, focusing first on data integrity, platform standardisation and workflow automation – the essential foundations for responsible and scalable AI adoption.
How would you describe the role your services played in helping your private markets clients navigate the economic landscape of the past 12 months?
Over the past 12 months, private markets clients have navigated heightened macroeconomic volatility, shifting interest rates and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Our role as fund administrator has been to provide stability, clarity and operational assurance throughout this period.
Alongside consistent teams, robust governance and high‑quality reporting, we have focused heavily on strengthening data integrity, standardising platforms and automating core workflows. This work underpins more resilient operations today and enables the responsible deployment of AI within clearly defined, controlled processes, enhancing accuracy, efficiency and transparency while preserving our expert oversight.
Regular client touch points and proactive reviews of service delivery models have ensured that administration solutions remain fit for purpose as fund strategies and market conditions evolve. By combining experienced judgement, disciplined operational frameworks and secure, technology‑enabled processes, we have helped clients remain focused on portfolio performance and investor relationships, confident that their fund operations are well supported in a challenging market environment.
What has been the most significant change you’ve observed in the European private markets industry in the past 12 months?
The continued growth of private capital reflects a structural shift in global investment markets. As public markets become more constrained, private markets are now firmly established as a core component of diversified portfolios, playing a critical role in delivering long‑term growth, resilience and liquidity. This evolution is reinforced by enduring market dynamics, including fewer listed companies, reduced IPO activity and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.
Against this backdrop, capital is increasingly selective and risk‑aware, heightening the importance of stable, well‑regulated international finance centres. Jurisdictions like Jersey, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands continue to play a vital role, offering trusted platforms for cross‑border fund structuring, governance, compliance and investor servicing. Their political neutrality, transparent regulatory frameworks and proven operational resilience provide investors and managers with confidence and continuity, particularly during periods of geopolitical tension and market disruption.
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Get in touch with our Funds team to find out how we can support you with your fund administration and governance needs.
