This week’s overview of people transfers and appointments in the fund and asset management industry includes new moves at Axa Investment Managers, Apex Group, Ocorian, Pinsent Masons, Columbia Threadneedle, Gen II Fund Services, Crestbridge, Baker McKenzie and Capex.com.
Marlene Pelage
Marlene Pelage has joined Gen II Fund Services, LLC, an independent private capital fund administrator, as chief financial officer. Pelage joins Gen II from IPG Mediabrands where, as Global CFO, she managed a multi-billion dollar media/advertising agency budget with a footprint across 130 countries.
She previously held leadership roles at Charles Schwab, including Chief Financial Officer of Charles Schwab Bank, and at Crédit Agricole Bank, where she held positions in several international locations. Pelage holds a Master in Management from ESCP Business School and an MBA from Drexel University. Gen II is headquartered in New York and also has an office in Luxembourg.
Stacey Moody
Stacey Moody has joined as a director in the corporate services team at Crestbridge as it continues to grow its internationally focused corporate services proposition. Moody will take responsibility for supporting the needs of Crestbridge’s global corporate client base, while also working with the senior management team to drive the evolution of the business’s existing comprehensive suite of services and solutions.
Moody has over 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry, during which time she has specialised as a corporate company secretary in Jersey and Australia. Prior to joining Crestbridge Stacey worked in Australia for Intertrust, a global corporate services provider, where she led the corporate secretarial services team.
Benoît Rose
Benoît Rose is joining Pinsent Mason’s Luxembourg office as partner from 16 August. Rose, who has expertise in fund structuring for traditional and alternative assets, including private equity, real estate, debt and infrastructure, will serve as the head of Pinsent Masons’ funds practice. Rose joins from Ogier in Luxembourg, where he was co-head of the firm’s funds practice and partner.
His multi-jurisdictional work entails supporting clients in Luxembourg, France and the UK, advising managers and service providers concerning products, business efficiency improvement and distribution. Rose also provides regulatory advice, such as support on licensing for asset managers and fund administrators.
Sandra Bur
Sandra Bur, head of capital markets Luxembourg at Ocorian, has announced she left the company per 2 August. Bur joined the provider of corporate and fiduciary services, fund administration and capital markets in June 2021 and previously was at Apex Sanne, where she served about five years in various roles, last as associate director.
Mark Bodon
Mark Bodon has joined Axa Investment Managers as a senior portfolio manager in the emerging markets and Asian fixed income team. Bodon now co-manages the Axa WF Asian Short Duration Bonds fund, and the Axa WF Asian High Yield Bonds fund alongside Magda Branet, and portfolio manager Mikhail Volodchenko.
Prior to joining Axa IM, Bodon was at Columbia Threadneedle Investments where he co-lead on a variety of hard currency sovereign and corporate debt investment strategies. He was also previously at First Sentier Investors. Axa IM managed around €842 billion in assets under management, as at the end of March 2023.
Axa last month promoted Phillipe Gasser to head of European transactions at its alternative investments business. Grasser is based in Frankfurt and joined Axa IM Alts in 2021. Ulf Bachmann was named CEO for Germany, in addition to his current role as chief transformation officer for real estate. Emilie Jaskula has been appointed to the new role of global head of offices at Axa IM.
Olivier Dal Farra
Olivier Dal Farra has been promoted to partner at Baker McKenzie Luxembourg. With more than 12 years of experience, his practice focuses on international tax planning and tax advice in connection with strategic organisation and M&A transactions. Dal Farra assists international clients, including foreign asset managers and private equity firms, in tax structuring strategies concerning their debt or equity investments.
Dal Farra also advises financial institutions on tax planning and international tax compliance aspects. He has significant experience in assisting high-networth families and single-family offices with international tax, wealth planning and family governance issues. He will report to
Diogo Duarte de Oliveira, tax practice group leader at Baker McKenzie Luxembourg.
Qasir Bashir
Qasir Bashir has been appointed as country head for Denmark at Apex Group. Bashir previously held senior roles within the Danish alternative investment management industry at Danske Bank and at Danske Invest. A lawyer by training, Qasir began his career working with financial regulation and later held fund operations related roles including fund formation and leading various fund related projects.
Bashir’s role was previously held by Peter Toyberg who will retire from Apex Group effective October 31, 2023. In addition to this, Lars Moller Anderson who co-founded the Private Equity Administrators (latterly part of Sanne Group) business along with Peter has also announced his intention to retire from the business in the coming year.
Hiti Singh
Hiti Singh has been appointed at Columbia Threadneedle to the new role of Head of Alternatives Client Management, EMEA, to drive capital raising for its alternative strategies. Hiti reports to Stewart Bennett, Global Head of Alternatives.
Columbia Threadneedle is committed to the strategic growth of its alternatives business, particularly its global real estate offering which has assets under management of 22 billion pounds and over 260 employees. Hiti joins from New End Associates, where she worked since 2020. She has previous capital raising and investment experience working for Octopus Investments, First Avenue Partners, CDC Group and Morgan Stanley.
Paul Turner
Paul Turner has been appointed as executive director - UAE & Mena region at Capex.com, a global multi-asset FinTech provider. He will report to Madalina Rotaru, Senior Executive Officer of Key Way Markets ltd, the company operating Capex.com in the Mena region. Turner’s focus will be on continuing the UAE offices growth momentum, while creating and executing business plans that align with the group’s strategic goals in both established and emerging markets.
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