Orbis taps Antipodes veteran to lead investment push

Binaya Dahal

Journalist

8 April 2026

Global contrarian fund manager, Orbis Investments, has appointed Alison Savas as its new Investment Director as the AUD$80 billion firm seeks to strengthen its position in the Australian distribution market.

The former investment head at Antipodes Partners, Savas will focus on improving coordination between global investment team and local distribution network at Orbis. She will also help articulate its long-term, contrarian investment philosophy and portfolio strategy.

Prior to Antipodes, Savas spent over a decade as Senior Analyst at Platinum Asset Management and served as Deputy Portfolio Manager at Kingfisher Investments. She boasts more than two decades of experience in global equity research, portfolio construction and senior client-facing roles.

Orbis’ Managing Director for Australia, Jason Ciccolallo, said Savas brings deep expertise in global equities and emerging markets from her experience at value-oriented managers.

“Alison brings a rare combination of deep global equities expertise and the ability to turn complex ideas into practical insights advisers can use with clients when discussing markets, exposures and the role Orbis can play in client portfolios,” Ciccolallo said.

“The understanding of this differentiated role is exactly what we’re focused on building in Australia.”

At Orbis, she will work closely with Head of Clients Eric Marais and Investment Specialist Vern du Preez.

Ciccolallo also noted that advisers are increasingly constructing portfolios that are concentrated, passive and benchmark-aware.

“Passive and managed accounts have an important role – but they are increasingly concentrated and benchmark-aware by design,” he said.

“That is driving demand for genuinely differentiated high-conviction strategies that can sit alongside these exposures.”

He added Orbis’ approach is deliberately contrarian that seeks opportunities in overlooked areas of the market to uncover mispriced potential.

“It is often in these overlooked areas that we find our best ideas. In today’s market environment, that’s not just additive, it’s becoming essential for diversification and long-term outcomes,” Ciccolallo said.

“Alison will play a key role in helping us bring that perspective more directly to our clients.”