Chris Cummings, chief executive of The Investment Association, was named Funds Europe European Personality of the Year at the annual Funds Europe Awards on Thursday night (November 2), which took place at the Tower of London.
Thomas Richter, his counterpart at the German investment funds association BVI (and winner of the title last year) presented the award and also handed Olivier de Larouzière, CIO for global fixed income at BNP Paribas Asset Management, with the European CIO of the Year Award.
The Funds Europe Awards is in its 19th year and BBC TV presenter Samira Ahmed hosted the event.
Asset management firms including JP Morgan Asset Management, Dodge & Cox and AlphaReal were among the winners.
A number of technology firms and asset servicing firms – including Oxane Partners, Linedata, BNP Paribas and IQ-EQ – won in the technology and investor services categories.
Nick Fitzpatrick, editor of Funds Europe, said: “Chris was chosen because it was felt his personality and influence went beyond the UK industry, in part owing to the success of the IA Engine programme – which supports fintechs – to a wider international network. The programme itself has done a great deal to advance digitisation in the industry.”
Meanwhile, judges felt Olivier de Larouzière had consolidated his distinguished track record as a portfolio manager in asset management to really make a mark as a CIO at BNP Paribas AM, which he joined in 2019.
The awards received a record number of entries this year. “What most struck me was the number of entries that related to private markets. Whether in the fund management category, or the investor services and technology categories, a good many entries emphasised developments within firms that were focused on private markets.”
The 2023 awards included a new set of categories – the FundsTech Awards. These awards seek to recognise innovation within asset managers, asset servicers and within the tech vendor community. The category received one of the highest number of entries.
David Wright, co-publisher of Funds Europe, said: “The Funds Europe awards process relies on an independent panel of judges – a factor in making a Funds Europe Award really worth winning. We are grateful to our judges for their time. And also to our sponsors – Clarity AI, FundGuard, Monterey Insight, Societe Generale Securities Services and Waystone.”
Judges for the awards take part in typically one panel covering a limited number of categories. No judge sits on all panels.
2023’s judges were:
• Borja Cadenato, director of product, Clarity AI
• Sascha Calisan, director, Sionic
• Elizabeth Carey, independent adviser to Bedfordshire and Torfean Pension Schemes
• Bella Caridade-Ferreira, CEO, Fundscape
• Allesandro Cavallari, head of international sales, Societe General Securities Services
• Robin Creswell, managing principal, Payden & Rygel
• Margaret Delman, non-executive director and professional trustee
• Detlef Glow, head of Refinitiv Lipper research, EMEA
• Bill Gourlay, managing director, Independent Consultants Network
• Hugues Gillibert, CEO, Fitz Partners
• Dorothy Hamilton, president, Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment, Scotland region, formerly HSBC
• Harjit Kaur, partner, Maples Group
• William Martinez, SVP investment advisory, Apex Group
• Luc Neuberg, CEO of Global Fund Risk
• Karen Northey, director of corporate affairs at The Investment Association
• Karine Pacary, managing director, Monterey Insight
• Davendra Patel, head of AI & automation, Alter Domus
• Elliot Refson, Jersey Finance
• Olivia Vinden, director, head of technology services – AWM UK at Alpha FMC
© 2023 funds europe
