EFAMA, the European Fund and Asset Management Association, has elected Claude Kremer as its President for a two-year term. The election of the new EFAMA head took place in Lucerne during the association’s Annual General Meeting.
The representatives of the European investment management industry also appointed two Vice-Presidents, Mr Christian Dargnat and Mr Massimo Tosato. It is the first time that EFAMA has elected two Vice Presidents, reflecting its commitment to engaging with the industry regulatory and operating environment.
The new President, Mr Kremer, has already served as Vice-President and will succeed Jean-Baptiste de Franssu who served for two years. Kremer was Chairman of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) for four years and has acted as a non-executive board member of a number of Luxembourg funds and listed companies. He is also a founding partner and Head of Investment Management at the law firm of Arendt & Medernach, based in Luxembourg.
Mr Christian Dargnat is Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM). He joined in 2006 as Chief Investment Officer of BNP Paribas Investment Partners and became a member of the Executive Board. He was also named Director General of BNPP AM in April 2009.
Mr Massimo Tosato is Executive Vice Chairman of Schroders plc. He joined Schroders in 1995 as Managing Director of Investment Management in Italy before he was relocated to London to become Head of Schroder Investment Management for Continental Europe and the Middle East. Massimo has also held the positions of Group Managing Director for the Retail division and Global Head of Distribution at Schroders.
In his election speech at the AGM, Mr Kremer said: “It is a great honour and privilege for me to have become the President of this association which is the prominent and recognised voice of the European Fund and Asset Management industry. The many initiatives undertaken by my predecessor Jean-Baptiste de Franssu provide a solid basis to build upon.
“I have identified the following five priorities which put the investor at the heart of our strategy: Promote long-term savings, encourage investor information and education, support beneficial regulatory measures, promote the UCITS brand in Europe and beyond, increase the legitimacy of the European Fund and Asset Management professionals. I believe these priorities capture the essence of what we wish to achieve over the next two years. EFAMA is a team effort and I see myself as part of this team, with the Vice-Presidents, the Director General and all our members the active support of whom is indispensable to fulfil our missions.”
Members at the AGM, also elected a new Board of Directors for a two-year term*. In addition to the elections, the AGM marked the formal acceptance of 15 new Corporate Members and 18 Associate Members, which saw EFAMA’s membership increase to 56 corporate members and 27 national member associations.
As the voice for the European investment management industry, EFAMA and its newly appointed heads have presented an ambitious and challenging agenda for the next two years and remain firmly committed to the association’s overall mission to: support a high level of investor protection; promote the completion of an effective single market for investment management and the creation of a level playing field for competing saving and investment products; and strengthen the competitiveness of the industry.
