Natixis Investment Managers (IM) has launched Dynamic Solutions, a new umbrella division, which will combine the firm's expertise in developing customised client investment solutions into a single offering of solutions capabilities within the new multi-affiliate organisation.
James Hughes, former global head of strategic client solutions for Aberdeen Standard Investments will lead the new business. Hughes is based in London, and reports directly to CEO Jean Raby. Hughes will join Natixis in December 2018.
The new Dynamic Solutions division brings under one roof Natixis Investment Managers' European investment solutions capabilities into a centralised team, which has been charged with leveraging the expertise of its former Portfolio Research & Consulting Group (PRCG) and the former Investment and Client Solutions (ICS) unit of Ostrum Asset Management (an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers).
Dynamic Solutions will selectively access expertise across the firm's range of investment affiliates to deliver investment solutions that respond to the ever-changing needs of investors as well as provide advisory, structuring and fiduciary management services, according to Natixis.
Natixis Investment Managers is one of the top asset managers in the world with €846.5 billion in assets under management (AUM), offers investment solutions through its global distribution platform, from 26 high-conviction active investment managers.
This multi-affiliate structure is built on a belief in the power of independent and active thinking, 'the ultimate objective being to better serve investors and help them to build stronger and more diversified portfolios over the long term,' according to a spokesperson.
Claire Martinetto, former project leader of the solutions initiative for Natixis Investment Managers, will serve as deputy head of this team.
Dynamic Solutions encompasses three main areas of investment solutions coverage including Consulting and Advisory - led by James Beaumont, former head of Natixis Investment Managers' Portfolio Research & Consulting Group; as well as Investment Solutions and Services - led by Oumar Diawara (pictured), former head of the structured investment services platform at Seeyond; and Multi-Asset Multi-Affiliate Investments - led by Franck Nicolas, former head of investment and client solutions at Ostrum.
Natixis Investment Managers -formerly Natixis Global Asset Management, was created in December 2017 and combined with Natixis Wealth Management to make up Asset & Wealth Management, one of Natixis' four core business lines, alongside Insurance, Corporate & Investment Banking, and Specialized Financial Services.
Seeyond, an investment division dedicated to structured products and volatility management which covers institutional investors, multi-managers, private banks, IFAs and banking networks was launched in 2012 and has €15.9bn of asset under management (AUM) across capital protected products as well as model-driven global and European equity strategies and equity arbitrage strategies.
Natixis Asset Management became Ostrum Asset Management on April 3, 2018. Seeyond and Ostrum are both affiliates of Natixis Investment Managers.
'Dynamic Solutions brings together the existing asset allocation and portfolio construction expertise of our group into a single entity to address complex investment challenges utilising the diverse expertise of our global multi-affiliate organization,' said Raby.
Natixis Asset Manager appears as a third party distributor in over 100 structured products sold among retail investors in France. Year to date, Natixis is the fifth most active distributor in France with over 65 products marketed.
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