New Interest Rate Environment, Capital Preservation, and Meeting Family Expectations: The Three Priorities of Family Offices

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Following the stock market rally in 2023, family offices are shifting their portfolios, reducing cash holdings, and positioning in risk assets with the expectation of gains in the coming year, according to Citi Private Banking’s report, *Global Family Offices 2024. Survey Insights*.

“We are delighted to share the results of this year’s survey, which offers an inside look at the investments and priorities of some of the most diverse and sophisticated family offices in the world. Over the last two years, we have seen the number of participants grow from 126 to 338 globally, highlighting the increasing need for unique perspectives on the main challenges and opportunities family offices face today. The broad-ranging questions cover the most current global topics, revealing significant shifts in concerns and interests. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with family offices to provide access to all areas of Citi that support the ambitious goals and needs of the world’s most global and sophisticated investors,” said Hannes Hofmann, Head of Citi Private Bank’s Global Family Office Group.

**Top Concerns for Family Offices**

The survey results show that the preservation of asset value is the top concern for families, followed closely by preparing the next generation to be responsible stewards of their wealth.

Citi highlights that this underscores the dual priorities of family leaders: preparing wealth for their families and preparing family members to manage that wealth. Furthermore, the adoption of formal governance systems is uneven among family offices. While over two-thirds have governance systems for investment functions, less than half rely on formal governance for other family office and family-related matters.

“While family offices are inherently unique, our survey demonstrates that there are many similarities in their concerns and behaviors. Findings like these reveal the new ways they are managing their wealth, diversifying portfolios, and implementing sophisticated investment approaches while preparing families to achieve both financial and familial well-being,” emphasized Alexandre Monnier, Head of Family Office Advisory for Citi Private Bank’s Global Family Office Group.

Key Findings

Amid ongoing market volatility and geopolitical challenges, the report highlights key challenges and areas of potential opportunity for the year ahead. Among the most notable conclusions of this year’s edition is that asset preservation and preparing the next generation for future responsibilities are top concerns for families. Respondents also noted that meeting family members’ expectations is their biggest challenge.

The report reflects how family office portfolios are shifting and what concerns investors have. “Family offices are moving cash into significant portfolio changes, shifting from liquid resources to fixed income and both public and private equity,” the report concludes.

Additionally, there has been an increase in exposure to artificial intelligence, which “likely contributed to the strong returns last year.” However, the report notes that the adoption of AI technology in family office operations remains slow.

A notable finding is the continued optimism about portfolio performance over the next 12 months, with 97% of respondents expecting positive returns. However, the report shows that the future of interest rates is the primary concern, followed by geopolitical issues such as U.S.-China relations and the conflict in the Middle East.

Regarding the family office business itself, the report confirms that investment approaches are becoming more sophisticated. Sixty percent of family offices now have investment teams led by a CIO, investment committees, and formal investment policy statements, with a strong commitment to alternative asset classes.

“As they professionalize, family offices are increasingly collaborating with external partners. Investment management (54%) and reporting (62%) are the only two services most family offices manage internally; all other services are either outsourced or handled jointly,” the report points out.

The report also revealed changes in portfolio allocations. Equities and fixed income saw an increase in their weightings, rising from 22% to 28% and from 16% to 18%, respectively. Private equity declined from 22% to 17%, potentially due to delayed revaluations compared to public equities. North America received the highest allocations (60%), followed by Europe (16%) and Asia-Pacific excluding China (12%). Allocations to China nearly halved, dropping from 8% to 5%, due to economic challenges and market uncertainty in the country. The share of North American allocations increased from 57%, driven by a strong equities market.

Expert Analysis

For Citi, it is notable that for the first time since 2021, inflation is no longer the top short-term economic concern for respondents. Instead, interest rate expectations became the top priority for more than half of respondents, followed by U.S.-China relations and market overvaluation. Concerns about the Middle East conflict are now more prominent than those regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Looking ahead, sentiment towards asset classes was more positive compared to last year’s survey, with increased confidence in direct private equity, private equity through funds, and global developed market equities.

Compared to the 2023 report, positivity towards developed global investment-grade fixed income dropped from 45% to 34%, reflecting an increased appetite for risk. Regarding portfolio returns, nearly all respondents (97%) expected positive returns, with almost half anticipating returns above 10%.

“Our family office clients are becoming increasingly global as they seek to create and preserve wealth amid new challenges and opportunities in the markets. As interest rates evolve and geopolitical challenges persist, investors and their families are mobilizing their cash and shifting their portfolios towards public and private equity. Family offices are focused on the future as they navigate evolving markets around the world,” concluded Ida Liu, Head of Citi Private Bank.

The survey was launched during Citi Private Bank’s 9th Annual Family Office Leadership Program in June 2024 and later distributed to Citi’s global family office clients. With 50 questions aimed at capturing investment sentiment, portfolio positioning, family governance, and best practices, the survey received responses from 338 participants, which were included in the report.

Greater Alpha, Risk Control, and Sustainability: The Three Advantages of Enhanced Index Passive Strategies

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Récord en activos de ETFs

The passive management industry continues to innovate, this time with enhanced index strategies. Wilma de Groot, Head of Core Quant Equity and Quant Portfolio Manager at Robeco, describes enhanced indexing as a proven alternative to passive investing, combining the benefits of this popular style with higher returns and sustainability.

Robeco believes that enhanced index strategies systematically aim for excess returns while efficiently limiting risk. “Like passive strategies, these approaches are predictable, cost-effective, and transparent, but with the additional benefits of potentially delivering higher net returns and better sustainability profiles,” the firm highlights.

According to Robeco’s experience, in recent years, investors have increasingly turned to passive strategies for their core allocations. “While passive investing is popular for its predictability, transparency, and low costs, it has significant limitations, especially in times of high market valuations, geopolitical risks, and growing sustainability demands. This is why today’s investors need strategies for their core allocations that go beyond simply following the market,” Robeco argues.

In this sense, the firm defends enhanced indexing as a smarter alternative, building on the benefits of passive investing while addressing its limitations. “By utilizing proven performance factors, this approach aims to outperform benchmarks, keep costs low, and improve sustainability, all while maintaining risk levels similar to passive strategies. This makes it an attractive option for core equity and credit allocations,” Robeco states in its latest report, *The Smarter Alternative: Enhanced Indexing*.

Passive Investing Has Its Drawbacks

The report questions whether there is a smarter alternative to passive investing, as it also presents some drawbacks. For example, despite its appeal, there are compelling reasons to challenge this approach, especially for core allocations—the foundation of a portfolio designed to produce stable and consistent returns.

“Passive strategies, by nature, lag behind their benchmarks because they incur trading and implementation costs that their benchmarks do not. This can lead to significant underperformance, particularly in less liquid asset classes like credit. Passive investing also ignores decades of academic research on asset valuation, thus missing opportunities to actively exploit market inefficiencies,” the report notes. Additionally, the document highlights “sustainability issues” and the challenge that these strategies are not customizable.

Finally, the report points out another dilemma investors face today: determining where we are in the global equity market cycle and whether U.S. exceptionalism will continue. “Notably, the macroeconomic environment, characterized by high interest rates, growing geopolitical instability, and sustainability concerns, presents challenges for all types of investing. These conditions, combined with high equity market valuations and lofty earnings expectations, could lead to lower future returns,” the report comments.

Based on this analysis, Robeco argues that “a smarter alternative offering better returns with a risk profile similar to the market and greater sustainability than a passive approach can play a key role in core equity allocations, especially if investors need to preserve their risk budgets for alternative satellite investments to meet their overall objectives.”

Advantages of Enhancing Index Strategies

The first argument Robeco’s report presents in favor of enhanced indexing is its potential to deliver better returns. “Unlike passive strategies that blindly follow an index and do not favor one company over another, enhanced indexing strategically invests more in companies with stronger fundamentals while having less exposure to those with weaker fundamentals. Smarter company selection is based on forward-looking performance factors that have been empirically proven to have strong predictive power, allowing the strategy to exploit market inefficiencies to deliver better returns than the index after costs,” the report states.

Secondly, it explains that while seeking improved returns with a risk profile aligned with the index, enhanced index strategies maintain a risk-conscious stance. “Although the portfolio favors companies with stronger fundamentals, this is implemented within measured limits from a portfolio, sector, and company perspective to contain relative risks. Additionally, advanced portfolio construction ensures that the relative risk budget is used efficiently to generate sufficient returns that offset trading and implementation costs, providing returns above the index,” the document adds.

Finally, Robeco emphasizes improved sustainability integration. According to the report, enhanced indexing strategies not only favor healthier companies but also those that are more sustainable. “By definition, passive strategies are indifferent in this regard. And when passive strategies follow ESG-tilted indexes, the risk profile of those indexes can deviate significantly from their core benchmarks, for example, due to differences in sector or regional exposures. This exposes investors to the types of active risks they sought to avoid by choosing a passive strategy in the first place,” the report concludes.

The Assets Of The Largest Pension Funds Reached 22.6 Trillion Dollars In 2023

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The 300 largest pension funds in the world returned to growth in 2023, leaving much of the previous year’s decline behind. However, the assets of the largest pension funds have not yet returned to their historic peaks, according to the Global Top 300 Pension Funds report, prepared by the Thinking Ahead Institute of WTW in collaboration with *Pensions & Investments*, a leading U.S. publication on investments.

In 2023, the assets of the top 300 pension funds increased by 10%, reaching $22.6 trillion, compared to $20.6 trillion in AUM at the end of 2022. This recovery comes after a 13% drop in assets in 2022, as markets stabilized following the high level of global economic uncertainty from the previous year. According to the report, growth has been faster among the largest plans, with the world’s top 20 pension funds registering a 12% increase in assets over the last year, outperforming their smaller counterparts. This faster growth has also been sustained over time, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% for the top 20 pension funds over the last five years, compared to 4.7% for the top 300 as a whole.

Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) remains the largest pension fund in the world, with $1.59 trillion in assets under management, a position it has held since 2002. However, with $1.58 trillion in assets, Norway’s Government Pension Fund, only 0.5% smaller, could take the top spot next year after recording a 22% growth in assets over the past 12 months. “While it is encouraging to see a return to growth among the world’s major pension funds in 2023, the combination of a more uncertain macroeconomic environment and rising geopolitical instability creates greater complexity in the investment landscape,” said Oriol Ramírez-Monsonis, Director of Investments at WTW, in light of the study’s findings.

WTW also explained that last year was marked by an environment of rising inflation and interest rates, which have since moderated, but the outlook remains uncertain. “While the first half of 2024 has provided some stability, uncertainty remains high, and volatility persists in the global economy, exacerbated by geopolitical events, including major presidential elections in many countries,” they said.

In Europe, the report notes that funds continue to allocate a significant portion of their investments to fixed income, at 47%, followed by equity investments, which account for nearly 40% of the allocation. This distribution marks a significant difference compared to other regions and highlights the need to continue working on diversifying strategies. “To continue making progress, it is crucial to optimize asset allocation in our portfolios, reducing investments in traditional assets. While in North America, investment in alternative assets already reaches nearly 30%, in Europe, we have yet to surpass the 15% threshold, leaving us ample room for improvement and growth,” concludes Ramírez-Monsonis.

Luis Buceta, New President of CFA Society Spain

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CFA Society Spain, the local member society of CFA Institute – the Global Association of Investment Professionals – has appointed Luis Buceta, CFA, as its new president. This announcement follows the conclusion of the current term, in accordance with the organization’s statutes, previously held since October 2020 by José Luis de Mora Gil Gallardo, CFA. Buceta will lead a team of distinguished professionals who will join him on the Board of Directors of the Spanish Chapter of CFA Institute.

Luis Buceta is currently the Chief Investment Officer of Creand WM in Spain (Crèdit Andorrà Financial Group). He previously worked for BNP Paribas Wealth Management as Director of Equity Investments, and began his career at The Chase Manhattan Bank. Over the past four years, Buceta has also served as Vice President of CFA Society Spain.

In addition to his professional role, the new president combines his work with teaching, as he is a professor at various business schools and universities. He holds a degree in Economics and Business Studies and Market Research and Techniques from ICADE (E2 and ITM). He also has an Executive MBA from IESE Business School and certifications in CFA ESG Investing and Certified Advisor (CAd).

Among the main objectives of the new team are to continue strengthening the prestige and growth of the CFA professional accreditation in Spain and to meet the new needs of investment professionals by providing access to innovative certifications such as the Certified Advisor CAd Program, CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing, Climate Risk, Valuation and Investing Certificate, Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate, Data Science for Investment Professionals Certificate, and Private Equity Certificate.

At the local level, relationships with all stakeholders of CFA Society Spain will continue to be strengthened, including members, CFA candidates, employers, regulatory and supervisory bodies, and partner firms. The activities of all the Committees within CFA Society Spain will also be reinforced, particularly in the areas of private/alternative markets, sustainability, diversity, wealth management, relationships with Latin American professionals, education, communication, investment performance measurement (CIPM), regulatory affairs, asset management, and digital assets.

The fundamental goal is to promote excellence among investment professionals in Spain and to advance the financial sector for the benefit of Spanish society as a whole.

Luis Buceta, CFA, President of CFA Society Spain, stated: “I am honored by the opportunity to assume the presidency of CFA Society Spain following the excellent work of my predecessor, José Luis de Mora Gil Gallardo. This is something I could not have imagined when I obtained the CFA accreditation many years ago. It is an exciting and unique challenge, for which I have a magnificent team, all CFA professionals, on the Board of Directors. Together, we will work to continue growing the CFA accreditation as the benchmark for excellence and prestige, and to strengthen CFA Society Spain as the authoritative voice of investment professionals in Spain.”

José Luis de Mora Gil Gallardo, CFA, said: “Under the leadership of Luis Buceta, CFA Society Spain will continue to grow, positioning the CFA accreditation as the gold standard of prestige and excellence among current and future investment professionals in Spain. Luis has demonstrated his capability and leadership at Creand (Crèdit Andorrà Financial Group) and as Vice President of CFA Society Spain. Therefore, the next four years of CFA Society Spain could not be in better hands.”

Alongside Luis Buceta, the new Board of Directors of CFA Society Spain is composed as follows:
– Sila Piñeiro, CFA, Vice President, is Director of Wealth Management PB at Deutsche Bank.
– Gemma Hurtado San Leandro, CFA, Treasurer, is Head of Investments at SGFO Capital.
– Guendalina Bolis, CFA, Board Member, is Director of Investments at Abanca Gestión de Activos.
– José María Martínez-Sanjuán, CFA, Board Member, is Global Director of Fund Selection at Santander Private Banking.
– Constantino Gómez, CFA, Board Member, is Partner at Arcano Partners.
– Jaime Albella, CFA, Board Member, is Director of Sales at AXA Investment Management.
– Pilar Garicano Madrigal, CFA, Board Member, is Executive Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
– Guillermo Barandalla, CFA, Board Member, is Chief Investment and Operating Officer at Injat Family Office.
– Kike Briega Muñoz, CFA, Board Member, is Knowledge Expert in Financial Services at McKinsey & Company.

Jupiter AM Closes its Emerging Market Debt Funds Following the Departure of the Management team and Explains the Next Steps to its Clients

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Jupiter AM has issued a note to its clients regarding its emerging market debt funds following the departure of the management team, assuring that their strategies will continue to be supported by their global team, according to an official document from the asset manager accessed by Funds Society.

Regarding the impact of the emerging markets team’s departure on the rest of the fixed income segment, Jupiter states: “No impact should be expected on the investment processes or performance of the other teams. The impact is limited to the team’s input in relation to secondary discussions and opinions on some specific credits, which are also present in other strategies. Jupiter has a global credit analyst team that covers both developed and emerging markets. All our funds are backed by the global team, as they have been and will continue to be. We are very proud of our credit team’s success over the years.”

The asset manager emphasizes that the Dynamic Bond and Global High Yield funds “have never relied on the EMD team. The Dynamic Bond holds a relatively small amount of emerging market credits, which are long-term investments very well known by the existing team. Both the Dynamic Bond and Global High Yield funds continue to be supported by the global credit team, and we will ensure that all funds receive adequate credit coverage in the future.”

Regarding the continuity and status of the team, Jupiter AM notes that Reza Karim and Alejandro di Bernardo have resigned to pursue other opportunities: “Despite building strong track records, our funds failed to generate sufficient traction among clients, mainly institutional ones. After careful consideration, we decided to close the entire spectrum of EMD funds,” the note states.

What will happen next with the two SICAVs of the EMD strategies? Will the funds be closed? Jupiter AM responds affirmatively: “The strategies will close in the old-fashioned way, following market standards. Once regulatory approval is obtained, clients will be notified with at least 30 days’ notice.”

The asset manager adds that, for now, it will maintain its investment and risk/return philosophy, and the current team will continue to manage the funds until their closure.

Jupiter states that “it has created a work environment that allows investment professionals to operate with independence and invest with a high degree of autonomy. We constantly assess our retention rates and incentive structures and believe they are highly competitive. We have demonstrated that this culture and structure has attracted and retained highly qualified professionals – evidenced, for example, by the recent hiring of Alex Savvides and Adrian Gosden along with their respective teams.”

GAM and Galena Join Forces to Offer Investment Opportunities in Commodities

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GAM has announced a strategic alliance with Galena Asset Management—a specialist in commodity financing and a fully-owned regulated investment subsidiary of Trafigura Group, which specializes in commodity trading and logistics. This agreement will provide GAM’s clients with access to global commodity markets, benefiting from Galena’s expertise in metals, mining, energy, and renewables.

Commodities are a vital asset class for today’s investors, offering resilience, diversification, inflation protection, and attractive returns in a changing world, according to the company’s statement. GAM has a long history in alternative investment and innovation, and this strategic alliance with Galena will further enhance its ability to offer superior solutions to clients.

The new GAM and Galena partnership will continue to strengthen GAM’s alternative product offering and has two main aspects: a global distribution agreement for Galena Funds and future product innovation.

With this distribution agreement, GAM will be the exclusive global distributor of Galena’s existing commodity investment strategies, which include (subject to local availability):

1. Trade Finance: A strategy providing short-term financing to commodity producers and traders, generating fee and interest income while mitigating risks through collateral, insurance, and diversification.

2. Multi-Strategy: A strategy that invests in macro and commodity themes across the full spectrum of asset classes. It employs a combination of directional, relative value, and arbitrage strategies based on rigorous fundamental and technical analysis.

3. Private Equity: Invests in private companies in the commodity sector, focusing on metal and mineral mining, processing, and related infrastructure and services.

Regarding product innovation, by working closely with Galena, GAM will be at the forefront of the rapidly evolving commodities investment landscape, with access to cutting-edge research, development, and technology. According to the firm’s statement, by leveraging extensive networks, projects, and research, GAM and Galena will collaborate to develop and launch new, innovative commodity-focused investment products for clients, addressing the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition, circular economy, and digital transformation.

Maximilian Tomei, CEO of Galena, stated: “We are thrilled to have formed an alliance with GAM, a firm that shares our entrepreneurial and innovative spirit and our passion for delivering the best alternative returns to our investors. As commodities gain greater importance and dynamism globally, we see enormous potential to create value for our clients by giving them access to our unique expertise and insights. We look forward to working with GAM to offer exciting and exclusive commodity investments to a broader international audience.”

On the other hand, Elmar Zumbuehl, CEO of GAM Group, noted that this strategic alliance with Galena “is a significant step forward for our firm and our clients, as it will enable us to access exclusive and attractive commodity investment opportunities by leveraging Galena’s capabilities and resources. We believe commodities are a key asset class for the future, offering appealing return potential and diversification benefits. We are excited to work with Galena to provide our clients with innovative and differentiated solutions that meet their needs and expectations.”

Smart Asset Management: Keys to Harnessing the Power of AI

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Foto de Steve Johnson en Unsplash

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the financial world by optimizing asset management, identifying opportunities, and supporting strategic decisions. FlexFunds breaks down the keys to adopting these technologies in the sector.

In recent years, asset management has radically changed, driven by the personalization of financial vehicles and diversified portfolios. Technological tools like AI allow managers to be more efficient and comply with regulations. Deloitte’s report, “How technology empowers success in the alternative assets market,” highlights that automation is key to managing risks, meeting regulations, and reducing operational costs.

Likewise, liquid assets and alternative instruments are benefiting from these tools in the structuring of portfolios to boost performance in options like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other financial securities alternatives.

In this context, technological solutions also contribute to the distribution and growth of investment products for asset managers, although the activity still requires significant human oversight, explains FlexFunds, a leading service provider for the management of securitized assets.

FlexFunds uses advanced technologies to structure personalized investment vehicles that can enhance the global distribution of investment strategies. In their view, AI could be a determining factor for the future of managing and structuring investment instruments in the coming years.

According to Mercer Investments’ 2024 global managers’ survey, 91% of managers are already using or planning to use AI in their investment strategies. The areas with the greatest potential are stocks, hedge funds, and digital assets, where AI drives value creation.

Operational efficiency and strategic decision-making

Asset managers can take advantage of AI by improving operational efficiency, user experience, and investment processes, enabling financial products to be adapted to client needs consistent with their risk profile and investment horizon. According to BlackRock, this increases the quality of data and financial instrument analysis.

Additionally, AI can assist the manager during decision-making in the investment process by quickly identifying patterns and insights. For example, with an instrument like an ETF (exchange-traded fund), AI models can help decide how to weight allocations within a given index, facilitating management and enabling more accurate replication of it.

The AI race in the global financial sector

Consulting firm IDC projects that global spending on AI will reach $500 billion by 2027. The financial sector could benefit greatly, especially in fraud detection and financial forecasting. As explained by S&P Global, up to 40% of financial firms already rely on machine learning for these use cases.

Generative AI, capable of creating original content from existing data, could generate up to $340 billion annually for the global banking sector, increasing productivity and offering more personalized products and services.

S&P Global’s report also notes that AI will contribute to the creation of hyper-personalized products and services and facilitate the technological modernization of financial entities. These advances will allow asset managers to better meet regulatory requirements, improve portfolio diversification, and increase efficiency in the distribution of investment products.

The impact of AI on asset management

A report by the CFA Institute Research Foundation highlights that the success of AI in asset management depends on its ability to detect complex patterns and process large volumes of unstructured data, improving forecasting accuracy. This technology also has the ability to self-improve, eliminating the need for manual reconfigurations. However, they warn that AI can fail if data quality is low,or tasks are too complex.

Despite the challenges, artificial intelligence is transforming the way managers structure and distribute financial products, promoting efficiency, diversification, and personalization in an increasingly competitive market.

In conclusion, FlexFunds emphasizes that, although AI presents challenges, its ability to process large volumes of data and continuously improve its performance is redefining how asset managers structure and distribute their financial products in an increasingly competitive global market. In this landscape, artificial intelligence tools and other technologies are fostering greater efficiency, diversification, and personalization in investments while enhancing strategic decision-making.

For more information on how FlexFunds uses advanced technologies to structure personalized investment vehicles that can cost-effectively expand access to international investors, write to us at info@flexfunds.com.

Flossbach Von Storch Will Change Its Legal Form And Become A European Company

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Flossbach von Storch is changing its legal structure. As the firm explained in a statement, the company will transition from an Aktiengesellschaft (AG – joint-stock company) under German law to a European company, Societas Europaea (SE) – Flossbach von Storch SE, in the fourth quarter of 2024. “We are not only long-term investors but also founders and owners of a company. In this sense, succession planning is essential for us. The legal form of the SE gives us the opportunity to create an institution for future generations. We still have much to achieve together,” explained Kurt von Storch, founder and owner of Flossbach von Storch.

Additionally, it was announced that the two company founders, Bert Flossbach and Kurt von Storch, will join the Board of Directors, alongside Johanna Hey, who was previously a member of the Supervisory Board. The current members of the Executive Board, Tobias Schafföner, Till Schmidt, and Marcus Stollenwerk, will form the Management Board. They highlighted that the greater flexibility of an SE’s board of directors, compared to a Supervisory Board under an AG, is something medium-sized companies can benefit from in succession planning and ensuring the sustainable orientation of the company.

In recent years, Flossbach von Storch has been taking steps to prepare the company for the future. For example, a partnership model has been implemented to ensure the long-term retention of the company’s key executives. Additionally, younger profiles have been brought into the Executive Board, and leadership responsibilities have been distributed across multiple leaders. “The change in legal form is another step forward,” said Bert Flossbach.

They also noted that Flossbach von Storch has grown favorably and become increasingly European. Currently, the company has employees working in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, and Belgium. The change in legal structure also reflects the company’s growing international focus, which is expected to continue in the future. The registered headquarters and main office will remain in Cologne.

Dean Blackburn, Appointed as the New Deputy CEO of Zedra

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Zedra, a global provider of wealth management services, has announced the appointment of Dean Blackburn as its new Deputy CEO. According to the company, this addition strengthens its leadership team with “innovative” and “dynamic” professionals.

Blackburn joins Zedra from JTC, where he started as Group Director in 2019 and was later appointed CEO. He also served as Chief Commercial Officer at JTC before assuming the role of Group Head of Institutional Client Services in 2022. “He is a people-focused professional with a proven track record of delivering significant business results. His leadership style is characterized by a deep commitment to team development and empowerment, which has consistently translated into strong business performance and growth,” Zedra highlights.

Following this announcement, Ivo Hemelraad, CEO of Zedra, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Dean to Zedra. His unique combination of people-centered leadership and business acumen aligns perfectly with our values and vision for the future. We are confident that Dean will play a key role in driving our business forward and achieving our strategic goals.”

Regarding his appointment, Dean Blackburn, now as Deputy CEO, added: “I am excited to join Zedra at such a dynamic time in the company’s journey. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the business, driving innovation, and most importantly, supporting our talented teams to reach their full potential.”

In his new role as Deputy CEO, Blackburn will work closely with the senior leadership team to help define Zedra’s strategy, ensuring the company continues to provide exceptional service to its clients while fostering a supportive and empowering environment for its employees.

WisdomTree Expands Its Range of ETPs With the World’s First ETC on European Natural Gas

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WisdomTree, a global financial products provider, has announced the launch of the WisdomTree European Natural Gas ETC (TTFW), which has begun trading on the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana, and Börse Xetra. According to the asset manager, the fund aims to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the BNP Paribas Rolling Futures W0 TZ Index, which provides exposure to natural gas in the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) and measures the total return based on the underlying ICE Dutch TTF Gas Futures contracts.

“The war between Russia and Ukraine that began in 2022 profoundly altered the natural gas markets in Europe. Natural gas flows through pipelines from Russia to Western Europe, once the main source of natural gas for the region, are now insignificant. Western Europe is much more reliant on Norwegian pipeline flows and global liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. In its energy transition, the European Union will continue to depend on natural gas. Considering this, there will be periodic sharp increases in natural gas prices in Europe, as the fuel is used to offset renewable energy deficits. The Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) is the most representative and liquid natural gas benchmark in Europe and therefore the best tool for tactical exposure to these price jumps and for hedging purposes,” explained Nitesh Shah, Head of Commodities & Macroeconomic Research Europe at WisdomTree.

The asset manager highlights that this launch complements its range of natural gas products, which offer exposure to U.S. Henry Hub natural gas, the most well-known gas trading hub in the U.S. This includes the WisdomTree Natural Gas (NGAS), a euro-hedged alternative, as well as short and leveraged exposures. These products allow investors to express both their short-term tactical view and long-term strategic view.

“We have a strong track record of innovation and launching pioneering exposures in the market across all asset classes. Investors expect WisdomTree to provide exposures they cannot find elsewhere, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with this ETC. This launch strengthens our leadership position in the commodity ETP market and offers investors an additional tool to navigate a dynamic market environment,” emphasized Alexis Marinof, Head of Europe at WisdomTree.

This new fund is passported for sale in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.