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Handi Huta Jaya
President Director
Indonesia’s financial services industry is transforming, with digital innovation and financial inclusion leading the way. Alongside the rise of fintech and mobile banking, asset management is gaining momentum as more Indonesians seek to grow and protect their wealth. By blending technology, trust, and accessibility, financial leaders are building a future where more Indonesians can participate and benefit from long-term financial growth. Among these influential figures is Handi Huta Jaya, the President Director of Jarvis Asset Management. Handi reflects focus, discipline, and a long-term commitment towards building trust in a competitive industry.
From the very beginning of his career, Handi set a clear goal, to one day establish and run his own asset management firm. Achieving that vision required two crucial ingredients, namely assets under management (AUM) and client trust. Handi’s journey through the financial sector has been marked by a steady and impressive climb. He began his career at Trimegah, starting as a junior analyst and rising through the ranks to eventually become Head of Research and then Fund Manager. His trajectory continued at Ashmore Indonesia, where he was an early employee and played a key role in the firm’s early success, helping it surpass $1 billion in AUM within just two years, a milestone achievement in Indonesia’s asset management landscape. He then took on a transformational role at Bahana, where he successfully helped turnaround the institution's business segment in just six months. These experiences paved the way for the founding of Jarvis Asset Management, which Handi co-established with three other partners.
Jarvis AM quickly gained a reputation for strong research capabilities and insightful investment recommendations, helping the firm earn the trust and recognition of both institutional and retail clients. Under Handi's leadership, the company has remained disciplined, performance-driven, and deeply committed to maintaining a clean and trusted reputation in the financial community, an increasingly rare quality in today's investment world. Let’s read on.
How have your past experiences been beneficial in your current role?
Growing up in Singapore shaped my work ethic early on. I absorbed the culture’s strong focus and discipline, which really set the foundation for how I operate professionally, especially in Indonesia, where that level of structure can be a competitive advantage. Those habits have helped me stay grounded and results-oriented throughout my career. At the same time, I’ve always approached problems from a first-principles perspective. Whether it’s building investment strategies or managing teams, I don’t just follow standard playbooks, I ask fundamental questions and look for innovative, practical solutions. That entrepreneurial mindset has been especially useful in my current role at Jarvis Asset Management. It helps me stay agile, lead effectively, and deliver value in a market that’s constantly evolving.
What are the biggest obstacles you are finding solutions to today?
In today’s asset management industry, the two biggest challenges are growing AUM and delivering consistent fund performance. At Jarvis Asset Management, we’re fortunate to have reached a solid AUM level, so our focus now is on maintaining that base rather than aggressive growth. The real challenge lies in sustaining strong fund performance, which always brings us back to the quality of our research. Performance isn’t something you can fake, it reflects the strength of your investment process, discipline, and how well you understand the market. At Jarvis Asset Management, we’re led by four founding partners, each with a distinct investment style and approach. That diversity can be a challenge, but it’s also one of our greatest strengths. We constantly push each other to think deeper, debate ideas, and challenge assumptions. Managing that dynamic while staying aligned on performance goals is a key part of what I focus on every day as we grow and evolve.
Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
Earlier in my career, I was very uncompromising, idealistic, focused on perfection, and often difficult to approach. I wanted outcomes to match my own standards exactly, both in terms of quality and precision. That mindset worked when I was hands-on and fully immersed in the details. But as I transitioned into a managerial role and took on broader responsibilities, I had to evolve. I realized that leadership isn’t just about achieving perfect results, it’s about building a cohesive, motivated team that can grow and deliver together. Over time, I’ve learned to compromise where necessary, to prioritize long-term team development over short-term perfection. I now spend more time guiding, mentoring, and supporting my teammates rather than doing the work myself. It’s a shift from being a doer to being an enabler. Leadership, for me, has become a lifelong journey of balancing performance expectations with empathy, structure with flexibility, and execution with trust. That’s the core of how I lead today.
What is your future roadmap, going forward?
Moving forward, my goal is to build on what we’ve already achieved with Jarvis Asset Management in Indonesian public equities. We've established a strong reputation in that space, and now it's time to broaden our scope. The next step is expanding geographically by managing global public equity portfolios, bringing our research-driven, disciplined approach to a wider market. In parallel, I’m exploring opportunities in Indonesian private equities, which I see as a natural complement to our current focus. Both directions, global public and local private, leverage the strengths and experience of our existing team. We already have the analytical foundation and market understanding, now it’s about identifying the right opportunities and executing with precision. The vision is clear, which is to continue growing responsibly while staying true to our values and maintaining the performance and trust we’ve built over the years.
In light of your strong professional experience within the field, what would be your advice to budding industry leaders?
My advice would be to stay focused and execute with discipline, those two qualities will carry you further than you think. At the same time, don’t be afraid to think creatively and approach problems from new angles. Innovation is important in this industry, but it should never come at the cost of integrity. Always maintain a clean, credible reputation and let your work speak for your capabilities. Trust and performance take time to build, and once earned, they become your most valuable assets.
Handi Huta Jaya, President Director, Jarvis Asset Management
Handi Huta Jaya is the President Director of Jarvis Asset Management. With a strong background in research and fund management, he has played key roles at Trimegah, Ashmore, and Bahana. Known for his disciplined execution and clean reputation, he co-founded Jarvis to deliver trusted, research-driven investment strategies.