AXA IM launches Investment Institute, with Chris Iggo appointed as Chair

• AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) announces the launch of the AXA IM Investment Institute, a new platform that aims to help clients make better informed investment decisions by bringing together expertise across the firm’s research and investment teams.
• Chris Iggo, current CIO of AXA IM Core, has been appointed Chair of the AXA IM Institute alongside his existing responsibilities.

The AXA IM Investment Institute aims to provide clients with access to timely insights on macro events and views on asset classes and long-term future trends including sustainability, demographics, technology and regulations. The Institute will invite well-known external experts to provide their views on a range of business, responsible investing and macroeconomic topics which will encourage an open forum incorpoarting a diversity of opinion for clients.

Chris Iggo will lead The AXA IM Investment Institute Advisory Committee, which will meet quarterly to discuss the key macro and research themes to be covered by the Institute, and to complement the research AXA IM’s experts already provide. The committee consists of representatives from AXA IM Core, AXA IM Alts and senior members of the macroeconomic research, ESG research and Quant Lab teams. In addition, up to three external committee members who are yet to be determined will be appointed.

The Investment Institute will also host regular “AXA IM Institute talks”, a series of video discussions and interviews hosted by Chair, who will be joined by members of the committee, and external guests.

Chris Iggo, commenting on his new role, said: “At AXA IM, we are always looking at ways to improve our service, so we decided to make content produced across our investment and macro research teams more tailored to client needs and answer some of the most burning investment questions. Research is central to all our investment decisions. The move will bring our experts closer together, allowing for greater collaboration on a range of topics from Sustainability to Future Trends. I look forward to chairing our first committee meeting.”

Marco Morelli, Executive Chairman at AXA Investment Managers, added: “Bringing our expert views together under the AXA IM Investment Institute allows not only clients but anyone to access the broadest possible perspectives from across AXA IM’s research and investment teams, to help guide decisions they make for their portfolios.”

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Notes to editors

AXA IM Investment Institute Advisory Committee

• Chris Iggo: Chair of the AXA IM Investment Institute and CIO of AXA IM Core
• Gilles Moëc: AXA Group Chief Economist and Head of AXA IM Research
• David Page: Head of Macro Research
• Christophe Fritsch: Head of Fund Management, Structured Finance, AXA IM Alts
• Justin Curlow: Global Head of Research & Strategy, Real Assets, AXA IM Alts
• Marion Le Morhedec: Global Head of Fixed Income
• Mark Hargraves: Global Head of Equity
• Laurent Clavel: Head of Quant Lab
• Serge Pizem: Global Head of Multi-Asset
• Virginie Derue: Head of ESG Research

About Chris

Chris Iggo is the Chief Investment Officer for Core Investments and Chair of the AXA IM Investment Institute. In his role, Chris brings together the insights of the Research, Quant Lab and Responsible Investment teams for the benefit of all portfolio managers across asset classes.

Previously he was the CIO for AXA IM’s fixed income department, as well as Head of Active Fixed Income in Europe and Asia. In this role, Chris oversaw the investment process globally and was responsible for the management of all active teams in Europe and Asia, including the performance and strategy / fund development. Chris initially joined AXA IM as a Senior Strategist before his appointment as Fixed Income CIO in 2008. He assumed additional responsibility of the European and Asian Fixed Income divisions in 2014.

Prior to joining AXA IM, Chris spent five years as Head of Strategy at Cazenove Fund Management. Before that, he spent four years at Barclays Capital, first as Chief US Economist (in New York) and then as Chief European Economist. Previously, he spent seven years at Chase Manhattan Bank in London and New York as an Economist and Foreign Exchange Strategist.

Chris holds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of London.