Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah is the founder and Chief Executive of City Hive. Frustrated by the lack of diversity within financial services, Shah founded the industry body, City Hive in 2016 to challenge the investment and asset management industry and be a force of positive change.
A trailblazer, Shah is passionate about engaging with, educating, challenging and holding the sector accountable to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia at an early age, Shah has been relentless in ensuring that the industry understands that diversity does not just start and end with gender. An outspoken voice at conferences and in the media, Shah regularly comments on a range of issues, inclusive of gender equality, race, remuneration, neurodiversity and career progression.
Prior to founding City Hive, Shah was Senior Multi Manager Analyst and a member of the Aviva Investors Multi Asset team, which managed £89 billion of assets at the time. Previously, Shah held the role Investment Funds Manager at Aviva, responsible for developing and managing the process for Investment Governance of External Funds for Aviva UK Life and International. Shah has also held Analyst roles with HSBC Investments and Merchant Securities Ltd and joined the City as an Equity trader on the Bear Stearns Graduate Scheme in London.
Shah spent her investment career analysing fund managers in the asset management industry across all asset classes, conducting due diligence on 1000s of funds. This gave her a unique insight into the broader corporate culture of the investment management industry and catalysed her passion for holding firms to account for there ESG responsibilities. A champion for greater diversity and inclusion, Shah collaborates regularly with the Diversity Project and Women in Banking and Finance. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Accountancy from City University (CASS)