AXA Investment Managers Alts has appointed a new head and shuffled other senior roles.
Antoine Mesnage was appointed head of Australia for AXA Investment Managers Alts, effective 1 October, replacing Kumar Kalyanakumar, the alternative asset manager said in a press release Thursday. Currently, Mesnage is head of transactions for France at AXA IM Alts, where he has worked on high-profile investments, leading more than 11 billion euros (US$11.49 billion) of transactions, the release said, adding he will relocated to Australia. In addition to several roles at AXA IM, Mesnage was at Generali Real Estate in 2009-2010, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Boosting Australia Business
Laurent Jacquemin, head of Asia Pacific at AXA IM Alts, said the Australia business was «integral» to the firm’s growth ambitions for the region.
«Antoine brings significant knowledge, skills and years of expertise from his time in Europe, and I look forward to working with him to spearhead the next phase of growth in the Australian market,» Jacquemin said in the statement.
In addition, AXA IM Alts said Chris Willey was promoted to head of asset management and ESG, while James Cox was bumped up to head of fund management for AXA IM Alts in Australia, the release said. The two will replace Quentin Shaw, who previously held the combined role of head of asset and funds management, the release said.
Departures
AXA IM said Willey has more than 27 years of experience in institutional fund management, and has worked in the local market on integrating ESG into asset management. Cox, who has experience in the real estate and fund management sector, has been working on AXA Group’s deployment of capital in Australia, the release said. Cox previously worked at institutional fund manager Eureka – Real Assets, holding roles including assistant fund manager of a property fund, according to his LinkedIn profile. In 2016, AXA IM acquired Eureka- Real Assets.
Both Kalyanakumar and Shaw will depart AXA IM at the end of September, after working for an orderly transition, the release said. Kalyanakumar stated he would move on to «an influential role» in institutional real estate and infrastructure, citing a passion for sustainable and responsible investment.
Rushing Down Under?
AXA IM Alts isn’t alone in boosting a focus on Australia. In May, Citi said it would expand its presence in the market, making eight appointments there. as well as tapping Nicki Ashton for the superannuation segment. Superannuation is part of Australia’s retirement savings program.
In March, PGIM, Prudential’s asset management arm, also said in was looking to expand in Australia, adding a new head of wealth management role there. In May, Abrdn named State Street veteran Raf Chudhury to boost its Australian wholesale and institutional investment business.
To be sure, it’s not clear how profitable the Australian market might be. In a recent research note, BofA Securities said the Australian asset management sector’s earnings were disappointing.
AXA IM Alts has more than 188 billion euros of assets under management as of end-March, including more than 88 billion euros of mainly private real estate.
