The Emperor and the Otter: a match made in heaven

Financial investment is like a marathon: You have to take a long-term view, you must be able to weather the ups and downs and you have to keep on going, no matter what.

And so it is fitting that Emperor Asset Management, one of South Africa’s top-performing wealth management companies, has been named as the presenting partner of the Otter African Trail Run for the next three years.

The Otter African Trail Run, affectionately referred to as “The Otter”, is an annual 42km trail run that hugs a spectacular piece of Indian Ocean coastline in the protected Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park.

Emperor’s head of wealth, Craig Turton, participated in the run for the first time last year and was blown away.

“During the race you experience beautiful landscapes and nature as she is meant to be, untouched and spectacular,” he says. “The views of the ocean, the streams you pass through, the waterfall, the quietness of being out there own your own, fighting your own internal demons while thinking of what is coming next. Is it another 400 steps to climb? Or a technical pass around a cliff?

“But at the end of it all, I thought back and just wanted to do it all over again.”

Craig says there are plenty of synergies between the Emperor and Otter brands, making theirs an ideal partnership.

“We are both winning brands,” he says, citing Emperor’s recent win in the Raging Bull awards as an example, where Emperor’s IP Global Momentum fund was named as one of the top-performing unit trust in the country. “We also both demand unwavering commitment and a focus on the end goal.”

Otter race director Mark Collins is equally thrilled by the partnership.

“We are delighted to partner with an organisation that is as professional as Emperor Asset Management, who centre their business on relationships,” he says. “It’s evident that Emperor takes much of its inspiration from nature and relishes the adventure and meaning attained in the challenge faced and overcome whilst striving to reach goals out in the elements. This resonates with us.

“For the Otter team, this partnership is an enabler in our endless quest to remain the benchmark in sustainable marathon distance trail running in Africa.”

Various iterations of the Otter take place in early October 2021. Craig is, of course, already registered, as are two other Emperor celebrities: mountaineer and adventurer Sibusiso Vilane, who was the first black African to summit Mount Everest, and Shaun Keeling, who won a silver medal for rowing at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Visit the Emperor Asset Management and Otter African Trail Run websites for more information.

Run/walk Wolwespruit with Team Emperor

In the spirit of keeping fit – and tipping a hat to the Otter – Emperor Asset Management will be hosting a series of runs (or walks if you’d prefer) at the Wolwespruit Bike & Trail Park in Pretoria. Contact Bonolo Modise if you’d like to find out more.