Guernsey Finance 

Guernsey Finance's board of directors has announced the appointment of a new deputy chairman. 

Kevin Boscher, who is chief investment officer at Ravenscroft, has taken on the role which will provide additional support to the board of the island's promotional agency for financial services. He joins Paul Sykes, Kate Storey, deputy Steve Falla, Guernsey Finance chief executive Rupert Pleasant and current chairman Deputy Lyndon Trott. 

He brings more than 35 years' experience in financial services and investments and has spent most of his career in the areas of portfolio management, fund management, asset allocation, investment strategy, fixed income, hedge funds, multi-manager investing and absolute return investing. He will continue in his role at Ravenscroft with the Guernsey Finance position being a voluntary one.  

Deputy Trott said: "Kevin has had an impressive career in the area of asset management, and brings with him extensive, long-term knowledge of the global marketplace. 

"In order for Guernsey to maintain and develop our hard-earned reputation as an international, award winning and competitive financial services centre of excellence, we will continue to welcome people of Kevin's calibre. 

"I know Kevin is looking forward to playing his part, as we strive to maintain, develop and enhance our status in the fast moving and innovative world of international financial services." 

Boscher said: "Having worked in the finance industry in Guernsey all my career, I have seen first-hand how the breadth and depth of experience within the industry together with many other positive attributes have enabled us to ‘punch well above our weight' and become a global leader in many sectors of international finance.  

"This is something we should celebrate and continue to promote for our future economic success. I have also worked with Guernsey Finance on a number of occasions and have been impressed with how they represent and promote the industry in a competent and effective way. I look forward to working with the board and the team to continue the good work." 

GIBA chairman Paul Sykes added: "We are very excited about Kevin's appointment.  He brings deep analytical capability and insights into the finance industry domestically and internationally, and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for Guernsey's finance sector.  We look forward to working with Kevin and Guernsey Finance to sustain the strength and success of Guernsey as a leading global finance centre."  

ALFI 

The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) has elected Jean-Marc Goy as the new chairperson of ALFI, following its annual general meeting. His mandate is effective immediately and will run for two years. In addition, a new board of directors has been elected.

Goy has been a member of the ALFI Board of Directors since June 2019 and was elected ViceChairperson of ALFI in 2021. He is conducting officer and member of the board of Capital Group's Luxembourg management company and has over 25 years of experience in the Luxembourg fund industry.

Prior to joining Capital Group in 2018, he was head of international affairs for the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), the Luxembourg Supervisory Authority of the Financial Sector, where he worked for 20 years. 

He also practiced as a lawyer at a Luxembourg law firm between 1996 and 1998. 

Goy said: "It is an honour to have been elected as the new Chairperson of ALFI. Asset managers hold an important role in assisting investors achieve their savings and financial goals while simultaneously promoting economic growth. This role will serve as the cornerstone for the development of the ALFI Ambition Paper, outlining our vision for 2025-2030, which we aim to finalise early next year."

EFAMA

At its annual general meeting held on 16 June in Amsterdam, Sandro Pierri, CEO of BNP Paribas Asset Management, was elected as EFAMA's president for a two-year term, running until June 2025. 

Pierri has been the CEO of BNP Paribas Asset Management since 2021. He has over 30 years of experience in various leadership roles within the asset management industry, including as former CEO of Pioneer Investments.

He has more than 30 years' experience in the asset management industry.  He joined BNPP AM in 2017 as head of the global client group (‘GCG), its global sales and marketing organisation, and has made a notable contribution to implementing BNPP AM's growth plan, positioning it as a key player offering high added value investment solutions for individual savers, companies and institutions.

He began his career in 1989 as a portfolio manager with San Paolo Fondi, moving to BNL Gestioni in 1992, before joining ING Investment Management in Italy in 1994, where he held several commercial roles.  Between 2002 and 2003 he was Chief Executive of ING Group's Italian retail business.  

Following the acquisition by UniCredit/Pioneer of ING's Italian business, he joined Pioneer Investments, UniCredit's asset management division, in 2004.  He spent 10 years in various commercial and managerial positions, including being appointed CEO in 2012.  

Massimo Greco, vice-chair Asset Management EMEA at JP Morgan Asset Management, was also elected as EFAMA's Vice-President.

Greco has been vice-chair asset management EMEA since earlier this year, after heading EMEA Funds for JP Morgan Asset Management since 2012. He has 25 years of senior leadership experience at JP Morgan Asset Management and has previously served two terms as an EFAMA Board member.
 
Pierri said: "It is an honor to serve as EFAMA President for the next two years. In a challenging financial environment, regulation has become a key competitive component for our industry while navigating through major strategic transitions such as the retail investment strategy, sustainable finance and tech.

"I am deeply convinced that EFAMA has an essential role to play, to help build a true European Capital Markets Union to serve our clients and European savers but also finance the net zero transition. Our industry needs clear rules that allow fund and asset management companies to operate efficiently throughout the Union and beyond and I am truly committed to ensure the voice of our industry is heard at European and international levels."

Pierri takes over from Naïm Abou-Jaoudé, CEO of New York Life Investment Management and EFAMA President since 2021. 
Abou-Jaoudé said: "I would like to congratulate and wish the best of luck to my successor and friend, Sandro Pierri. I have full confidence that he will lead EFAMA with excellence, ensuring our industry's continued growth and success. I would also like to welcome EFAMA's new Vice-President, Massimo Greco, and wish the very best to both of you in your mandate."

Tanguy van de Werve, director general at EFAMA, said: "I wish to thank Naïm for the important contributions he has made as EFAMA President over the past two years. He has been a driving force and a great representative for asset managers during his tenure, successfully leading the association through particularly difficult times.

"I look forward to taking the association to the next level under the new Presidency and to ensuring that EFAMA remains the strong and inclusive voice of its diverse membership."

Members at the AGM also elected a new board of directors for a two-year term.  

Eastspring Investments 

Eastspring Investments, the $221bn asset management business of Prudential plc, has recently appointed Michael (Xiaochen) Sun as director of quant capability.

Based in London, he reports to Ben Dunn, Eastspring's head of quantitative strategies. He will represent the broad range of Eastspring's quantitative strategies and will partner with distribution teams across Asia, EMEA and the Americas. 

He has 18 years of industry experience, with positions at Unigestion, HSBC Global Asset Management, MSCI Barra and a UK-based FinTech firm.

Dunn said: "Michael's in-depth expertise in factor investing and quantitative approaches to portfolio management will further bolster the growth of Eastspring's quantitative business. Our clients benefit from our global research program with its unique focus on Asia that explicitly acknowledges variations in different regions and markets. 

"Michael will play a key role in articulating this and representing our suite of products as well as our customised solutions capability that caters to varying investor performance requirements and risk appetites."

Franklin Templeton

Franklin Templeton has named Jacob Rowe as business development director for its UK wholesale distribution team. He will be covering the South West and the Midland's region serving a number of large, strategic clients and report into Harry Reeves, head of sales UK wholesale. 

Rowe has about 10 years of industry experience, having joined from Russell Investments where he spent the last seven years in an intermediary distribution role. 

Reeves said: "In the current market environment, UK intermediaries continue to play a crucial role in supporting their client base and ensuring they maximise their capital during this period of economic uncertainty. 

"Maintaining and deepening our relationships with UK intermediaries is key, and the South West remains an important region within Franklin Templeton's UK wholesale strategy. Jacob brings valuable experience in working with the intermediary community across the UK, and we are pleased to welcome him to the team."

Rowe started his career as a professional football player with Birmingham City FC at a time when they were a Premier League club. He later pivoted his career from sports towards financial services where he started with JP Morgan's investment bank, before joining Russell Investments. 

Defaqto 

Defacto has hired Andy Parsons to its Insight & Consulting team.

Parsons joins as insight manager for Funds & DFM. A highly regarded industry expert, he spent 16 years of his career at the Share Centre as Head of Investments, Head of Product Proposition, and as a fund manager. Prior to this he held roles at Equitable Life, HBOS, and Bank of Scotland Investment Service.

Working with Defaqto's Investment Consultants and Analysts, Parsons will be responsible for leading and evolving their industry recognised and highly acclaimed investment ratings and unbiased appraisal of the broad investment universe, whether that be single asset, multi-asset or DFM. 

Paul Tinkler, head of insight & consulting at Defaqto said: "Andy's track record, wealth of knowledge and breadth of relationships exemplify the trusted expertise Defaqto is known for. We're delighted to have him on board as we lead the way in supporting financial institutions, intermediaries and consumers to make smarter financial decisions."

Parsons said: "I've long respected Defaqto and the way the business conducts itself, having personally experienced the analysis Defaqto undertakes whilst at The Share Centre. Joining has confirmed everything I thought about the business - a very open and embracing company with everyone striving to achieve the same strategic goals.

"Defaqto occupies a unique position, rating the spectrum of financial services we use in our everyday lives while working with providers, advisers, and asset managers to improve consumer outcomes, particularly in the face of more challenging regulation. Bringing to the market information people can trust has never been so important."

Lombard Odier Investment Managers 

Lombard Odier Investment Managers has appointed Marc Palahí as chief nature officer, as part of the firm's continued drive to bolster its sustainability expertise and capabilities through the addition of industry-leading talent.

He is a strategically important hire, following the recent launch of holistiQ Investment Partners a dedicated sustainable investment platform within LOIM that will invest in critical themes of the environmental transition with a dedicated pillar on nature-based solutions. 

Palahí is an internationally recognised expert on forests, circular bioeconomy and global change with over two decades of experience in leading scientific initiatives, including the directorship of the European Forest Institute.

In his new role, he is responsible for further developing the nature strategy within holistiQ's sustainable investment platform. In addition to enhancing the platform's nature-focused investment offering, Marc will integrate nature centrally across holistiQ's sustainability research activities, which provide intelligence and connectivity across all LOIM's core businesses.

Furthermore, his extensive knowledge and experience will be leveraged to create new tools and investment solutions that support the phase-out of carbon-intensive economic activity in favour of nature-based models, ultimately driving investment that contributes towards nature restoration, while further positioning holistiQ as a global leader in the distribution of nature-positive strategies.

He joins from the European Forest Institute, where he worked since 2007 and where he was the director since 2015. In this role, he was responsible for driving the Institute's development as a pan-European science-policy platform and working to connect knowledge to action at the interface of science, policy and business. 

Jean-Pascal Porcherot, co-head of LOIM and managing partner of Lombard Odier, said: "The world continues to face unprecedented challenges in building a more sustainable economic future, encompassing climate change, biodiversity loss, socio-economic inequalities as well as resource security and scarcity. 

"The role nature has to play in addressing these issues is increasingly clear, and we must ensure that a just transition includes positive nature outcomes. Marc's extensive academic experience across nature, forests and the emerging circular bioeconomy industries will be instrumental as holistiQ develops leading nature-based investment products that seek environmental outcomes and compelling returns for clients."