When the UK's largest retail investment platform prepares to sell a product it publicly states has “no intrinsic value” and "shouldn't be relied upon to help clients meet their financial goals," what does that tell you about Consumer Duty? When OpenAI obligates itself to $1 trillion in infrastructure commitments while still unprofitable, what could go wrong?In this episode of GRC in Focus, host Asad Bukhory, Asad explores how radical transparency alone might not be enough to meet Consumer Duty requirements, drawing comparison with the £11B car finance redress. Asad also explains how OpenAI could be creating tech’s TOO BIG TOO FAIL, and maps out the circular dependencies that could create systemic risks reminiscent of Nortel-Lucent vendor financing collapse that decimated the telecom sector in the 90s. He explains political incentives that make it nearly impossible for regulators to impose constraints on tech companies when "AI leadership = national security."

Man Group: 36% down, "nothing broken." UK trusts: £38B trapped in discounts, activist invasion imminent. Shadow banking: $10B hidden debt, triple-A bonds worthless.

In this episode of GRC in Focus, host Asad Bukhory dissects three unfolding disasters: Man Group's underperformance, the UK investment trust discount crisis, and the emerging shadow banking risks.When Man Group's board accepts "nothing is broken" despite 36% share price collapse and three years of underperformance, what does that tell you about oversight? When UK investment trusts leave £38 billion in shareholder value trapped by structural inefficiency, who's actually minding the store? And when First Brands hides $10 billion in debt while Tricolor's triple-A bonds become worthless overnight, what does that say about shadow banking's $3 trillion time bomb?Asad reveals why technical compliance with governance codes is insufficient, and explains the "constructive challenge" gap that lets management narratives go unchecked. He breaks down the principal-agent problem destroying UK investment trust value and explains why Saba Capital’s activist ETF is the wake-up call boards refused to hear.From Man Group's dilemma to the shadow banking contagion spreading through pension funds and ISAs, this episode provides the governance reality check every board member, compliance officer, and fund manager needs right now.

Think AIFMD 2.0 is just another regulatory update? You're wrong!AIFMD 2.0 isn't a minor regulatory tweak—it's the biggest revamp since 2011, and loan originators may need to overhaul their business model In this episode of GRC in Focus, host Asad Bukhory unpacks AIFMD 2.0's impact with just eight months until the April 16, 2026 go-live date. Asad explains how the new loan origination regime will impact "originate-to-distribute" strategies, forcing managers to choose between capital-draining risk retention or complete business model pivots. He reveals why every open-ended fund manager must now weaponise liquidity management tools or face investor exodus during the next crisis.Key Topics Covered:

1. The loan origination "capital trap" - 5% risk retention economics
2. Mandatory liquidity management tools for all open-ended AIFs
3. Enhanced substance requirements and delegation oversight
4. EU-UK regulatory divergence post-Brexit
5. Changes to the "originate-to-distribute" strategies
6. Swing pricing vs. dual pricing mechanics
7. Enhanced reporting and disclosure burdens

This episode provides a framework for navigating AIFMD 2.0's minefield. A must listen for AIFMs, loan originators, and anyone who thinks they can wait until 2026 to start planning.