AXA IM appoints two portfolio managers focusing on technology

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) announces the appointments of James Dowey and Matthew Ward to its Thematic Equities team focusing on technology, effective already.

Together they will focus on AXA IM’s technology range and offer valuable expertise to an experienced team whose franchise has been successfully growing over the past few years.

Based in London, both new hires report to Tom Riley, Head of Global Thematic Strategies for AXA IM Core. Tom joined AXA IM 15 years ago and works with Pauline Llandric (Portfolio Manager, Technology) who has been with the company for 16 years.

James joins AXA IM as Portfolio Manager, Technology and has 19 years of industry experience, most recently as Co-Head of the Global Innovation Team and Co-Manager of the Global Technology, Global Innovation and Global Dividend Funds at Liontrust Asset Management.

Matt has 23 years of industry experience and joins AXA IM from Barings, where he was Head of Global Technology Equities and Co-Head of Global and International Equities. He launched and managed the Barings Global Technology Fund as well as managing multiple other Global and International equity strategies.

Commenting on the appointments, Tom Riley, Head of Global Thematic Strategies for AXA IM Equity, said:

“We are pleased to bring in investors with the experience, quality and enthusiasm of Matt and James. Thematics has been an important growth driver for AXA IM Core over the last decade and our Technology capabilities have been at the forefront of this. Over the past few years, we’ve developed a number of differentiated and innovative investment propositions aiming to deliver strong performance for clients and accelerating the growth of these franchises. These high-calibre appointments will strengthen our management and continued development of our Global Technology strategies and our broader global equity capabilities.”

AXA IM has a long history and heritage of running sector funds with its Global Technology, Healthcare and Biotech UK Unit Trusts. In 2015, AXA IM leveraged this expertise to launch its Thematic range with a strategy investing in robotics.  Since then, AXA IM has developed a range of unique and innovative strategies and that have attracted a broad array of clients worldwide. Today, the thematic range encompasses 8 main strategies, with circa $9 billion of assets under management¹ .

Capital at risk. The value of investments, and any income from them, may fall as well as rise and investors may get back less than they originally invested.

Biographies

James Dowey

James Dowey joined AXA Investment Managers in December 2024 as Portfolio Manager, Technology.

James is Co-Lead Portfolio Manager of the AXA Framlington Global Technology Fund and the AXA AWF AI and Metaverse Fund.

James is Portfolio Manager of the AXA AWF Digital Economy Fund and the AXA AWF Robotech Fund.

Prior to joining AXA IM, he was Co-Head of the Global Innovation Team at Liontrust Asset Management, co-managing the Liontrust Global Technology, Global Innovation and Global Dividend funds. Prior to that he worked as a researcher in the oil and gas sector, an actuarial analyst, and spent 12 years at Neptune Investment Management including serving as Chief Investment Officer.

He has also researched and taught the history of innovation at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

James holds a PhD in Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and an MA in Economics from the University of Edinburgh.

Matthew Ward

Matthew Ward joined AXA Investment Managers in December 2024 as Portfolio Manager, Technology.

Matt is Co-Lead Portfolio Manager of the AXA Framlington Global Technology Fund and the AXA AWF Digital Economy Fund.

He is Portfolio Manager of the AXA AWF AI and Metaverse Fund and the AXA AWF Robotech Fund.

Before joining AXA IM,  Matthew spent over 16 years at Barings and most recently was Head of Global Technology Equities and Co-Head of Global and International Equities. Prior to these positions, he was managing European equity mandates, and was appointed Co-Head of the European Equities team in 2020.

Matthew is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and IMC holder and holds a BA Business Economics degree from the University of Exeter.

Tom Riley

Tom Riley is the Head of Global Thematic Strategies at AXA IM Equities and the lead Portfolio Manager of the AXA Robotech strategy. He is a Portfolio Manager on several Thematic & Technology related funds/mandates.

In his role as Head of Global Thematic Strategies, he is responsible for overseeing the thematics investments teams globally and coordinating the investment views across the major themes that are forecast to impact the global economy over the coming years.

Tom started his career in 2009 with AXA IM Framlington Equities as an Investment analyst before joining the Global Equity and Technology investment teams in 2013.  Tom is a CFA Charterholder and holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics & Statistics from Bristol University.

Pauline Llandric

Pauline Llandric is Portfolio Manager, Technology and Co-Lead Portfolio Manager of the AI & Metaverse fund and the AXA AWF Digital Economy Fund. She is a Portfolio Manager on several Technology related funds/mandates.

Previously Pauline was a Senior Investment Research Analyst in the Investment Analytics team, focusing on portfolio engineering, investment research and risk analysis at AXA IM. Pauline started her investment career in September 2008 as a quantitative analyst at AXA IM.

Pauline graduated with an Industrial Engineering Degree from INP Toulouse in 2007 and a master’s degree in finance from Paris-Dauphine University in 2008. Pauline is a CFA Charterholder.

About AXA Investment Managers

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a leading global asset manager offering a diverse range of global investment opportunities in both alternative and traditional asset classes. Through our products we aim to diversify and grow portfolios, while delivering long-term investment performance and value for clients.

AXA IM manages approximately €869 billion in assets*, and has €480 billion of ESG-integrated, sustainable or impact assets**. Our purpose is to act for human progress by investing for what matters. As a responsible asset manager, we are committed to integrating ESG principles across our business, from stock selection to our corporate actions and culture.

Part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, AXA IM employs over 2,800 employees and operates from 23 offices in 18 countries globally**.

*As at the end of September 2024, including non-consolidated entities.

** As at the end of December 2023.

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