Skip to Content

Our history & values

At Allan Gray, our investment philosophy is simple – we take a contrarian approach, apply it consistently and invest for the long term.

This is how we’ve been investing in Australia since 2005 and how the broader group has been investing globally since 1973.

The story of Allan Gray, and its sister company Orbis, over the past four decades is one of a successful contrarian approach, an emphasis on performance, and a laser focus on client service and satisfaction. These things all stem from the vision and beliefs of one man – our founder, Dr. Allan Gray. Allan genuinely saw investing as a way to help people, to build wealth and improve lives.

My objective was to try and make a difference where I could make a difference.
Allan WB Gray

Who was Allan Gray?

Brochure artwork

The Humanitarian Contrarian

Our founder, who passed away in 2019, was a pioneering investor whose unorthodox approach created an impressive legacy.

Never afraid to back his own judgement, his story is not just one of success, but of altruism, humility – and an uncompromising set of values that continue to guide Allan Gray Australia today. He believed in the good that could come from investing; creating wealth for successive generations.

Moreover, he parlayed his business acumen into philanthropy, establishing a fund that saw hundreds of bright young people receive an education they may otherwise have not. In this way, Allan Gray continues to make a difference to the world. Watch the video to learn more about Allan Gray.

The business lands on Australian shores

In 2004, the late Simon Marais, a South African Mathematician and Physicist, with the support of Allan and the Orbis Group, brought the Allan Gray contrarian investment philosophy to Australian shores to enable us to benefit from this unique investment approach.

Simon joined Allan Gray in South Africa in 1991. He became a Director in 1993, was appointed Chief Investment Officer in 1998 and became Chairman of Allan Gray Proprietary Limited in 2001. In 2002 Simon relocated to join the London-based Orbis company. At the end of 2004, he spearheaded the establishment of Orbis Investment Management Australia (which subsequently changed its name to Allan Gray Australia) as a domestic Australian equity manager in Sydney.

Simon’s legacy lives on through his carefully selected team who continue the great work that he started, while upholding the same robust investment philosophy and core values that we have maintained over our history. Simon Mawhinney, who was mentored by Simon, today leads the Allan Gray Australia team.

Hear Simon Marais speak about the Allan Gray approach to investing in the videos below.
exploring video thumbnail3

A history of doing things differently

Aside from contrarianism, what also sets Allan Gray apart is our commitment to our core values. Our founder believed in doing what was right for the client at every touchpoint and to this day we continue to reference our core values in every decision across the business.

Client focused

We commit to putting clients first. It’s at the centre of all we do.

Independently minded

Independent thinking is encouraged across our business as well as within our portfolios.

Performance driven

It’s more than just Fund performance – it’s delivering on everything we do.

Consistent

To us, success will be the result of consistently applying the fundamentals we believe in.

Committed to the long term

We don’t let short-term anomalies deter us from achieving our long-term goals.

Philanthropy has long been central to our founding family

Allan & Gill Gray Foundation was established in 2015, endowed with the controlling interests in the Allan Gray and Orbis groups of asset managers. The Foundation devotes the fruits of those interests exclusively to philanthropy.

Just as these firms strive to promote their clients’ financial security and peace of mind, so too will Allan & Gill Gray Foundation strive to make a positive contribution to the common good. It is this holistic view of business entrepreneurship and the symbiotic relationship amongst all stakeholders – clients, employees, owners, and society – that the Foundation seeks to preserve.
Allan WB Gray