Geddes head of UK at Apex, Cannella to lead TMT at EY

This week’s overview of transfers and appointments includes appointments at Apex Group and at EY.

Stephen Geddes

Stephen Geddes (photo) has been appointed as regional head for the United Kingdom at global asset services provider Apex Group.  He joined Apex from Mainspring Fund Services, where he was the founder and CEO. Apex acquired Mainspring in September last year.

‘Distribution is still key to the success in asset management’

Upcoming legislation bringing challenges to the fund distribution industry – notably adding reporting requirements and increasing costs – will be a key focus on Wednesday’s Global Distribution Conference of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, known as Alfi. “Distribution is still the key to the success of the asset management industry,” said Steven Libby, a partner and Emea AWM leader at PwC and an Alfi board member, who will serve as Master of Ceremony at Wednesday’s event.

Capita’s Chantal Free appointed as CEO at Ocorian

Chantal Free has been appointed at the new chief executive officer at Ocorian, a global asset services provider that also is present in Luxembourg.

Free joins Ocorian from Capita where she was CEO of their portfolio division, leading a portfolio of businesses across a range of sectors including insurance, legal, consulting and technology. Previously she spent 23 years at Willis Towers Watson, a global risk and people consulting and brokerage firm, where she held several senior roles in Asia and Europe.

‘Several’ parties express interest in Fuchs Asset Management

Animated movies. German real estate. Trade finance. Polish mortgages. Industrial lasers. Environmental intelligence. Pharmaceutical services. More than 1.5 billion euro has been invested in the Luxembourg-domiciled alternative investment funds under the wings of Fuchs Asset Management. Its AIFM portfolio presents a small microcosm of alternative investments managed via the Grand Duchy. The manco is for sale after its parent company, Fuchs & Associes, entered liquidation last month. Jean-Jacques Lava, deputy-CEO at Fuchs AM, said the sale process is going according to plan.

Next-gen ETFs: Luxembourg, Ireland tell tale of two Europes

Ciaran Fitzpatrick of State Street Institutional Services paints a vibrant picture of the evolving landscape for Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Across the investment world, the move from active to passive is not just a trend but a shift that is being felt across retail and institutional investments, largely due to persistent pressure on costs. Ireland and Luxembourg present different appeals to new issuers.

Apex to service BTC’s Argento oil and gas fund from Miami

Apex Group on Thursday said it has been appointed by BTC Investment Group to deliver fund services to its Argento Energy Fund LP, launched by the Mexican family office BTC in 2022, to manage investments in the US onshore oil and gas industry, with a target size of 100 million dollars. Apex will provide the services via its Miami office.