BlackRock, SSgS, Eaton Vance, KAS Bank, First Investments, Mirae Asset, Xudoo, Research Affiliates, Focus Orange

BlackRock – Simona Paravani-Mellinghoff has joined the world’s largest asset manager to take over the EMEA fiduciary management business. She replaces Richard Urwin after the investment veteran announced his retirement from the firm. Paravani-Mellinghoff joins from HSBC, where she worked for 10 years in CIO and investment strategy roles. Urwin, who was with BlackRock for nine years, is set to take some time away from the investment industry and look for a new challenge.

State Street Global Services (SSgS) – Pieter De Jong has joined as head of SSgS in the Netherlands. De Jong joined State Street in 2004 and has been in the firm’s Edinburgh office after a stint in South Africa. Prior to State Street, he worked for ABN AMRO in Amsterdam.

Eaton Vance – Christopher Dyer and Aidan Farrell have joined the Boston-based outfit as a director of global equity and a global small-cap portfolio manager, respectively. Both will be based in the London office from mid-June. The pair leave Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), where Dyer was head of European equity and Farrell a lead portfolio manager. Dyer has been at GSAM for 14 years, while Farrell joined the firm in 2008 after leaving Insight Investment.

KAS Bank – Kris Wulteputte is to leave the company as chief financial and risk officer. He will be responsible for risk management at a “European subsidiary of an international bank, and will operate from Munich”, KAS Bank said. The transfer of Wulteputte’s tasks and responsibilities is by mutual agreement.

First Investments – Vincent van Meeuwen has been appointed finance and control manager as of 1 May. He will take charge of operational and financial processes, as well as reporting. Previously, Van Meeuwen was controller at pensions provider Syntrus Achmea.

Mirae Asset Global Investments – Olivier Mampouya and Eldora Wong have joined the Asian emerging market equity house in the London and Hong Kong offices, respectively. Both join as sales directors with the aim of boosting business in both cities. Mampouya counts Wellington Management, State Street and Schroders as previous employers and will work along Nic Jones in the UK office. Wong joins from Robeco, where she worked on institutional business development.

Xudoo – Martin Straatmeijer, co-founder of pension governance advice bureau Xudoo, has announced his departure from the firm. According to Xudoo, he has opted for a new challenge as the company refocuses on governance issues. He is to withdraw from strategy and product development, as well as interim management. Xudoo is now headed by Maas Simon and Peter Priester.

Research Affiliates – Charles Aram has joined the smart-beta asset manager as head of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Aram joins from Henderson Rowe, a company he co-founded in 2002 and led as chief executive. He replaces Michael Larsen, who has been interim head of EMEA but will now return to the US headquarters.

Focus Orange – Pieter Kiveron has been appointed associate partner at the HR consultancy. Kiveron has worked at Holland Financial Centre and pensions provider MN, as well as an independent adviser. At Focus Orange, he will be involved in pensions advice in close co-operation with Ronald Doornbos.

Topics