Allianz Global Investors has appointed Virginie Maisonneuve as its new Global CIO Equity. She will succeed Steve Berexa who will retire at the end of 2021.
In a press release, the asset manager explained that Maisonneuve will join the team this week and will be based in London following a move back from Singapore in the Autumn. As the asset class lead and CIO for Equity, she will report to Deborah Zurkow, Global Head of Investments.
Allianz GI highlighted that she brings with her a 30 plus year track record of performance, team leadership and innovation in the field of investments. She has previously held portfolio management and CIO positions for companies including Eastspring, Pimco, Schroders, Clay Finlay, Batterymarch, State Street Research and Martin Currie in various parts of the world including Singapore, New York, Boston, San Francisco and London. During this time, she has pioneered investing in areas such as China, “Quanta-mental”, Thematics, ESG and Climate Change.
“Allianz GI has a broad and significant Equity platform, with recognised capabilities across investment styles and geographies. When it came to finding a successor to Steve, we sought someone of the highest calibre to ensure that our investment capability and offering develops ahead of the market. Virginie fits the bill perfectly: her breadth of experience, record of highly relevant innovation and global, forward looking outlook means she is strongly positioned to help us in the development of our client offering – in Equity but also as part of the leadership team of the firm”, commented Zurkow.
In this sense, Maisonneuve is succeeding Berexa, who has been Global CIO Equity since 2015. As part of the succession planning, he will remain at Allianz GI until the end of 2021, at which point he will retire following 24 years with the firm. Under Steve’s leadership, they have developed cutting edge collaboration tools for fundamental research as well as sponsoring the development of AI-based portfolio decision support.
Allianz GI manages 160 billion euros in Equity portfolios for retail and institutional clients around the world. Its Equity platform includes significant franchises in Global and European Growth; China Equities; Tech, including AI; Thematic Investing including a growing range of SDG-aligned funds; and very well-established systematic strategies. All investing is active, and all of it ESG risk assessed.
Por Funds Society, Madrid