Henry Seggerman
Financial Pioneer | Emerging Markets Expert | Governance Advocate

Henry Seggerman is a veteran investment professional and a recognized agent of change in the South Korean financial markets. As the Chief Investment Officer of International Investment Advisers (IIA) from 2000 to 2024, he led a multi-strategy asset management firm that oversaw up to $770 million in institutional and retail assets, serving a prestigious client base that included Sir John Templeton, Fayez Sarofim, and GE Asset Management.

A Legacy of Market Innovation and Performance Mr. Seggerman’s career is defined by "firsts" and a commitment to delivering superior risk-adjusted returns. Under his leadership, IIA’s proprietary trading desk developed a unique Leveraged High-Yield Fund that utilized a sophisticated fixed-income arbitrage strategy. This fund achieved global recognition, being ranked by Bloomberg as the #4 best-performing hedge fund in its category for 2012. The fund delivered an outstanding 66.17% return in 2012 following a 7.95% return in 2011, showcasing its resilience and strategic edge in the directional-fixed income space.

Furthermore, the Korea International Investment Fund (KIIF) established a formidable multi-year record of outperformance. Between 1992 and 2000, KIIF consistently outpaced the KOSPI index (on a dollar basis) as well as its largest institutional competitors, including the Korea Fund and the Korea Europe Fund. This sustained performance, particularly through the volatility of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, underscores his expertise in navigating complex emerging market cycles.

Corporate Governance and Activism Beyond quantitative success, Mr. Seggerman has been a prominent activist investor, frequently engaging in high-stakes governance battles with Korea’s largest conglomerates (chaebols), including the Samsung and SK Groups. His deep expertise in Board relations was forged on the front lines, where he was the first foreign investor to formally meet with mandated "Independent Directors" and successfully add agenda items to Annual General Meetings. His unique position in the market was famously recognized by Samsung Electronics, which reserved him a front-row seat at their televised AGM during periods of intense shareholder activism.

Thought Leadership and Public Engagement A dedicated communicator and educator, Mr. Seggerman served as a columnist for The Korea Times for over a decade, providing analysis on global politics, finance, and economics. He is a frequent guest and source for premier financial media, including the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Bloomberg Television, and BusinessWeek. His ability to bridge the gap between complex financial theory and real-world application is further evidenced by his history as a public speaker at The Korea Society, where he lectured on the intersection of South Korean politics and finance.

Educational Foundation Mr. Seggerman holds a Master’s degree from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He is also an alumnus of Phillips Exeter Academy and holds a certificate from the Université de Paris VIII. He even speaks a little Korean, which he utilized throughout his career to navigate the "Teheran Valley" tech corridor and the executive suites of Seoul.