Partners Group, APG, Aon, London CIV, L&G, Liontrust, Amundi
London CIV – Aoifinn Devitt, chief investment officer of the asset pooling company for London’s Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds, will step down from her position at the end of the year, according to a letter addressed to shareholders last week.
Rob Treich, head of public markets, will assist the investment team in the time between Devitt leaving and a successor being appointed, it added.
Devitt was appointed to the role in early January. The reason for her exit has not been disclosed.
The pool has suffered significant turnover in its leadership. Devitt’s successor will be the fund’s fifth CIO since 2017. In 2019, former UBS CIO Mark Thompson was appointed to the role but resigned within weeks. Devitt succeeded Jason Fletcher, who held the role from 2020 through 2023.
APG Group – After six years on the executive board, Francine van Dierendonck will be leaving the group on 1 October.
Van Dierendonck is responsible for the fund management and participant and employer services business units. Since taking up her position, she has ensured that participant orientation has been embedded in APG’s processes.
Her duties with the executive board will be taken over by Annette Mosman as of 1 October. Together with the supervisory board, an ultimate solution to Van Dierendonck’s replacement in her other roles will be sought, the firm announced.
From 1 October, APG’s executive board will consist of Mosman (CEO), Maarten Blacquière (chief finance and risk officer) and Ronald Wuijster (CEO of APG Asset Management).
Amundi – Guy Stear has joined as head of developed markets strategy at the Amundi Investment Institute. He will oversee the equity and fixed income developed markets strategists that provide market recommendations, analysis and research to Amundi’s clients.
Before joining Amundi, Stear worked for 20 years at Société Générale where he held various senior positions in strategy and research. Most recently, he was head of fixed income research for Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking.
Amundi Investment Institute, launched at the beginning of 2022, brings together Amundi’s research, market strategy, investment themes and asset allocation advisory activities to help meet the need of investors and clients on economic, financial, geopolitical and environmental topics.
Legal & General – The group has appointed Ashley Fagan to join its London team as global head of financial institutions, with a focus on further developing the firm’s relationships with these global clients as L&G continues to internationalise.
Fagan joins L&G’s asset management division from Amundi, having spent nearly six years there, most recently as head of global strategic clients, distribution and wealth, where she was responsible for relationships with key global strategic clients, across different geographies and asset classes including index, ETF and smart beta products and solutions.
In her new role, Fagan will focus on driving forward relationships in the US alongside the existing focus in the UK, Europe and Asia. The hire follows a recent refresh of the distribution team’s structure, with client teams in the US, Asia, continental Europe and the UK aligning geographically. Fagan will be supported in delivering the global financial institutions strategy by Chris Massey, deputy global head of financial institutions.
Aon – The firm has appointed Ed Thomas as head of Lloyd’s Capital within its reinsurance solutions capital advisory team.
Thomas will be responsible for leading Aon’s Lloyd’s-focused capital advisory services, focusing on capital-raising and capacity-enhancing initiatives that support managing agencies’ growth strategies, while helping them to navigate volatility and build resilience. His remit will also include supporting the creation of new syndicates and delivering risk transfer and capital optimisation programmes.
Based in London, Thomas joins Aon from Lloyd’s of London, where he held several executive positions – most recently as head of member services, a role in which he was responsible for overseeing approximately £37bn of funds at Lloyd’s.
Thomas brings more than 15 years of insurance experience to Aon, having built lasting relationships with investors and capital providers throughout his career. He has also held roles at professional services firm Deloitte, insurer Chubb, and broker The Ardonagh Group.
Partners Group – The firm has appointed Michael Marquardt, partner and head of business services, to the firm’s executive team.
Marquardt, who is based in Singapore, joined Partners Group in March 2024 from IQ-EQ, a global service provider using advanced technology to offer administration, compliance, and reporting solutions for the investment sector, where he served as regional CEO for Asia.
Previously, Marquardt was at BlackRock for 17 years, where his last role was as Asia-Pacific chief operating officer. At Partners Group, he is responsible for overseeing the firm’s business services platform.
Liontrust Asset Management – Alastair Barbour, non-executive chair of the company, will retire from the board of directors at the close of its annual general meeting (AGM) on 19 September 2024.
Accordingly, Barbour will not seek re-election at the AGM. Luke Savage will be appointed as non-executive director and chair with effect from 20 September 2024. Savage will also serve as chair of the nomination committee.
Savage is an experienced non-executive director and chair, holding positions at Chesnara, Deutsche Numis, DWF Group and Liverpool Victoria Financial Services.
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