Dr Don Hamson: The pivot that built a $25bn business

2026-04-07

In this episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff, we sit down with Dr Don Hamson, founder of Plato Investment Management. Hamson built a $25 billion fund manager, but it started with a problem. His original long/short strategy was disrupted during the GFC when regulators banned short selling. What followed was a shift towards income, built around a simple idea. In Australia, franking credits matter, particularly for retirees. That focus became the foundation of Plato’s business.

In this episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff, we sit down with Dr Don Hamson, founder of Plato Investment Management.

Hamson built a $25 billion fund manager, but it started with a problem. His original long/short strategy was disrupted during the GFC when regulators banned short selling.

What followed was a shift towards income, built around a simple idea. In Australia, franking credits matter, particularly for retirees. That focus became the foundation of Plato’s business.

Today, Hamson runs a global investment firm with a systematic approach to investing, focused on consistency, risk management and long-term outcomes.

In this conversation, we unpack that pivot, how he thinks about building portfolios, and why process matters more than prediction over time.

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