“They were also very much interested in how artificial intelligence will affect financial services and beyond. I did chuckle thinking if they had been here the year before they would have asked the same about crypto.“

Hector McNeil, Co-CEO & Founder HANetf, BA Hons Economic and Social History, 1989

Our Global Experience team were delighted to host a group of 16 students from HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College in Leighton Hill, Hong Kong earlier this year in June.

The two week course consisted of a week spent in London and a week on Campus at the University. In Hull the students participated in lectures from the Business School on topics including accounting, marketing, intercultural communication and personal development. They also immersed themselves into life as a Hull student, staying in University accommodation on campus.

Their time in London was spent visiting large businesses and financial institutions. They were hosted at a number of institutions founded or run by University of Hull Alumni, including Hector McNeil, Co-CEO and Founder of HANetf, Europe’s first independent white label EFT platform. Below, he describes his experience with the students….

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Recently I helped host and present to a group of Hull University Hong Kong Campus students. A group of approximately 20. I’m a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and George Littlejohn, Senior Adviser to the CISI hosted us at their offices in the landmark Walkie Talkie building in the centre of the City of London.

The current students were most interested to hear about the careers available in the City of London and the professional qualifications available through the CISI. They were also very much interested in how artificial intelligence will affect financial services and beyond. I did chuckle thinking if they had been here the year before they would have asked the same about crypto. The whole morning visit was very refreshing and highlighted to me how global my old University had become.

As someone who graduated from Hull back in 1989 I recently decided I wanted to get involved and put something back. I had a superb time at Hull. I studied Economic and Social History, which I believe is no longer offered and had 3 of the best years of my life. I met my wife Sara Giwa-Mcneil, Econ & Social History & Sociology – 1989,  there and we are still married and together after all those years and have 3 kids who are all at University today.  I also discovered rugby league at Hull which I switched to play from union in my final year. I ended up playing for Scotland and GB students whilst doing an MBA at Warwick and also founding & owning London’s second professional league team London Skolars.

Hull also helped me launch my career. I started life in the City in 1989 as a graduate trainee for the London Stock Exchange (LSE). It was the first year the LSE took non-Oxbridge grads. It was a great place to learn and make contacts. I also went on to work for BZW (Barclays Capital), Morgan Stanley, Nomura and Susquehanna. The last 20 years I’ve founded and owned 4 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)  Business’ including ETF Securities, Boost ETP, Wisdomtree Europe and my current business HANetf where I am co-CEO and founder.  HAN stands for Hector and Nik, Nik is my business partner for the last 18 years. I believe the education and more importantly the experience I got at Hull prepared me for all I have done and intend to do going forward.

Hector McNeil
Co-CEO & Founder HANetf
BA Honours Economic and Social History – 1989