The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has appointed Tanguy van de Werve as its new Director General. He will take up his position on 1 January 2019.
Van de Werve (pictured), will be responsible for the implementation of the Association’s strategic agenda, and the leadership and management of the EFAMA secretariat in Brussels. He will also be the central spokesperson and representative for the European asset management industry with international policy makers, regulators, and other key industry stakeholders.
In a career spanning 25 years, Van de Werve has been instrumental in leading and managing successful advocacy campaigns for several high-profile industry bodies. Prior to joining EFAMA, van de Werve spent three years as a Managing Director and Head of the Brussels office for the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) – the trade association representing the banks most active in Europe’s wholesale capital markets.
Previously, he spent just under 10 years as Director General of Eurofinas & Leaseurope – the trade bodies representing the specialised European consumer credit providers and the European leasing industries respectively. Van de Werve was a member of the European Banking Industry Committee (EBIC) for 11 years, and spent five years as a management committee member of the European Banking Federation.
William Nott, President of EFAMA, says: “Following an in-depth and thorough selection process, we are confident we have found the right person to lead the Association through what will be a vital next phase for the industry in Europe.”
Tanguy has an excellent track record in leading complex industry associations, raising the profile of the industries he has represented, and most importantly, in achieving tangible and quantifiable results with EU policymakers for those industries. He has also been at the heart of the evolution of the European financial services industry in recent years.”
“Tanguy’s experience of the sell-side will also be instrumental in necessary future coalition building and collaboration on regulatory issues of mutual interest – and his experience of dealing with international bodies will also be crucial as the asset management industry collaborates with international regulators such as the Financial Stability Board, IOSCO and the European Systemic Risk Board.”
A key component of Van de Werve’s role will be to continue to improve the understanding of the role asset managers play in markets and across the wider economy. In particular, he will look to build on EFAMA’s work to raise awareness of how asset managers can help secure adequate retirement capital in Europe, protect European citizens’ welfare through savings and contribute to the European Sustainable finance agenda. He will also lead the formulation of proactive and reactive policy development for the Association.
Van de Werve says: “I am thrilled to join EFAMA, and to partner with members at such an exciting time for the European asset management industry. As investors in financial markets and stewards of capital and long-term savings, asset managers are ideally placed to help address crucial societal challenges, such as the increasing retirement savings gap, the need to finance long term infrastructure, and the transition towards a greener economy.”
During the June AGM, the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) announced that Peter De Proft, who has headed the industry body for the past eleven years, will step down as Director General. De Proft will remain an Honorary Director General to the Association and will have an advisory function to the new Director General during the transition period to the end of June 2019.
Nott adds: “Peter’s part in the EFAMA story has been invaluable, and he will be sorely missed by his team, the national associations, and the corporate and associate members whom he has served with distinction since 2007.”
Van de Werve says: “Peter will leave big shoes to fill at EFAMA and I look forward to benefitting from his experience and guidance, as I aim to pick up where he has left off.”