This week’s overview of transfers, appointments, promotions and other career news in the international fund and asset management community includes updates from Bank Lombard Odier, European Depositary Bank and Blackrock.
Frédéric Praz
Frédéric Praz (photo) has been appointed head of private client activities for the France, Belgium, and Luxembourg region at Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd, effective 1 September 2024. Based in Geneva, Praz will report to Frédéric Rochat, managing partner and co-head of the private clients activity, and will join the Private Clients Executive Committee.
Praz brings over 30 years of experience in the banking sector, having been head of the Swiss international market at Lombard Odier since 2017. Before joining Lombard Odier, he held various key positions at UBS, where he managed teams dedicated to the French UHNW and HNW client bases.
In his new role, Praz will focus on strengthening Lombard Odier’s growth strategy in the European Francophone markets. His appointment is part of a succession plan to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities from Gérard Felley, who will continue to serve as head of the Grandes Familles teams and remain on the Private Clients Executive Committee until his retirement.
Roseanna Young and Markus Weimann
Roseanna Young and Markus Weimann have been appointed as managing directors at European Depositary Bank (EDB), effective 1 September 2024, following the retirement of Holger Barth. Barth retired after a 30-year career in the international financial sector, having served as managing director at EDB for the past three years. During his tenure, he was instrumental in overseeing the bank’s depositary, custody, and branch operations.
Young, who previously served as branch manager in Dublin and head of depositary and custody services for Ireland, will now lead the bank’s operations from Dublin. She brings 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and joined Apex Group in 2019 after its acquisition of Deutsche Bank’s alternative fund services division.
Weimann, formerly head of depositary oversight in Luxembourg, will take on his new role as managing director with responsibility for the depositary business. With 23 years of experience in the industry, Weimann has been with Apex Group since its acquisition of M.M. Warburg & Co Luxembourg in 2019. He took on the role of head of depositary oversight in January 2020 and joined the EDB executive management board in September 2024. He will continue to be based in Luxembourg.
Roelof Salomons
Roelof Salomons has been appointed as the new chief investment strategist for BlackRock Netherlands. He will be part of the BlackRock Investment Institute (BII), which provides insights on macroeconomic developments, sustainable investing, geopolitics, and portfolio construction to BlackRock’s clients and portfolio managers.
Salomons has previously worked as a strategist and portfolio manager and has held advisory roles and been a member of investment committees for various pension funds and family offices. His past roles include strategist positions at Kempen Capital Management and Aegon AM. In addition to his new role at BlackRock, he is also a professor of investment theory and asset management at the University of Groningen.
Investment Officer publishes an overview of key industry appointments in and around Luxembourg every Thursday. Please share your announcement via email to editor@investmentofficer.lu.