LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, announced today that Chris Yiannakou has been named head of Loomis Sayles Investments Limited (LSIL), Loomis Sayles’ London-based entity. Chris reports jointly to Kevin Charleston, chairman and chief executive officer, and to Maurice Leger, director of global institutional services.
Loomis Sayles opened the London office in 2012 to expand the firm’s global footprint and strategically support the unique needs of EMEA investors. Less than 10 years later, the European/MENA book of business accounts for about £28.3 billion ($38.4 billion) in assets under management. LSIL also has a significant trading and research presence, with deep relationships in the UK and Europe.
In his new role, Chris is responsible for the overall operations of the firm’s London office in addition to his duties as head of EMEA institutional services, overseeing a team primarily responsible for client and consultant relationships as well as business development across the EMEA region. In 2015, Chris was named director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) institutional services, managing director and board member of LSIL. Chris joined Loomis Sayles in 2012 from UBS Global Asset Management, where he was head of consultant relationships for Europe. Prior to UBS, he was responsible for institutional consultant and client relationships with Pioneer Investments and Gartmore Investment Management, respectively. Chris earned a BA in Finance from Bournemouth University and also holds the Investment Management Certificate and Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Society of the UK.
“This promotion reflects Chris’ leadership, hard work and commitment, which are apparent in both the growth of our assets under management and the talented team of sales and relationship management professionals he has helped develop,” said Kevin Charleston. “Chris is a vital part of our strategy to grow our global asset base; most recently he also played a critical role in bringing the Loomis Sayles Euro Credit team on board and we look forward to his continued success in the future.”
Chris assumes the head of office role from Christine Kenny, who is returning to the United States in a newly created position as a strategic project leader. Her initial focus will be working with Kathleen Bochman, director of ESG, on several critical ESG projects. Christine will report jointly to Kevin Charleston and John Russell, head of human resources.
“As one of the first two members of the London-based team, Christine was a key leader in establishing our business in Europe, and her commitment has set us up for success over the long term,” said Kevin Charleston. “As co-head, managing director and compliance officer, she had the daunting tasks of forging strong relationships with the vast European sell-side market, as well as keeping up with the ever-changing regulatory landscape in the UK. She hired and developed many of the talented investment personnel in London and helped build a very diverse, team-oriented culture that anyone who has spent time in the London office can attest is truly special.”
In conjunction with this transition, Christine will step off the LSIL board; this role will be assumed by Valerie Miles, fixed income trader in London. Valerie joined Loomis Sayles in 2014 and has 11 years of investment industry experience. Prior to Loomis Sayles, Valerie was a credit trader at ECM Asset Management Limited, covering corporates in investment grade, high yield and emerging markets. Previously, she was an investment grade CDS market maker at Societe Generale. Valerie earned a master’s degree from Ecole Centrale Paris and a master’s degree from Pantheon-Sorbonne University in Paris.
Joseph Mukungu has been promoted to head of client relationship management, EMEA. Joseph joined Loomis Sayles as a relationship manager in 2013 and has been responsible for retaining and growing the Loomis Sayles client base across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. In his new role, Joseph will focus on longer-term planning related to EMEA client engagement. He will continue to report to Chris Yiannakou and Jim Sia, head of relationship management. Joseph has 22 years of investment industry experience. Prior to Loomis Sayles, he was head of international client services at Neuberger Berman and head of client services & relationship management at JO Hambro Capital Management. Joseph earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics with engineering from the University of Nottingham.
“Joseph’s proven relationship management and client servicing skills will be key components of our business development plans across the EMEA region going forward,” said Chris Yiannakou. “He has been an instrumental member of the team since he joined Loomis Sayles, and his partnership will be critical as we work closely with Natixis Investment Managers and the rest of the European-based institutional services team to collectively shape the future strategic direction and growth of our EMEA business.”
ABOUT LOOMIS SAYLES
Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm’s performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and integrated risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. Teams of portfolio managers, strategists, research analysts and traders collaborate to assess market sectors and identify investment opportunities wherever they may lie, within traditional asset classes or among a range of alternative investments. Loomis Sayles has the resources, foresight and the flexibility to look far and wide for value in broad and narrow markets in its commitment to deliver attractive sustainable returns for clients. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages $347.8 billion * in assets (as of December 31, 2020).
Loomis Sayles Investments Limited ("LSIL") is a subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company L.P., and it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
*Includes the assets of Loomis, Sayles & Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company, LP.
ABOUT NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS
Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of more than 20 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active Thinking® to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis Investment Managers ranks among the world’s largest asset management firms1 with nearly $1.4 trillion assets under management2 (€1,135.5 billion).
Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers’ affiliated investment management firms include AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; DNCA Investments;3 Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers;4 and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, and Natixis Advisors offers other investment services through its AIA and MPA division. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers’ website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.
Natixis Investment Managers’ distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, L.P., a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia.
1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2020 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2019.
2 Assets under management (“AUM”) as of December 31, 2020 is $1,389.7 billion. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers.
3 A brand of DNCA Finance.
4 A wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Wealth Management.
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