SINGAPORE – AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) announced today that as part of its multi-year plan to grow its Asian presence, it has and will continue to invest and strengthen its team of client specialists in the region. Most recently, with the appointment of Ms Carmen Lai as the Head of Institutional Sales, Asia. This is an important addition to AXA IM’s growing pool of regional sales veterans, signalling the firm’s ever-deepening commitment to this key market as part of its ongoing expansion plan.

Ms Lai, who reports to Mr Terence Lam, Head of Client Group Core, Asia Pacific, joined the firm in January 2021 and is based in Hong Kong. In her role, she will oversee the development of AXA IM’s institutional business and client relationship in Asia, spearheading the firm’s sales strategy within this client segment with an initial focus on building a dedicated institutional sales team servicing North and Southeast Asian markets. Given AXA IM’s over 20 years of deep ESG expertise and strong capabilities across fixed income, equities and multi-asset, Ms. Lai and her team look to continue to deliver best-in-class service and provide investment solutions to meet the needs of institutional investors in the region. 

“We are delighted to have Carmen join us,” said Mr Lam. “Her deep industry knowledge and strong client network in the Asian markets are certainly valuable to driving long-term growth in our institutional business and creating greater value for our clients. The addition of Carmen is integral to the overall team expansion journey in Asia, and I am convinced that our strong and experienced Client Group team, consisting of industry professionals in sales, client service and marketing capability across Hong Kong and Singapore, can provide client-centric solutions and meet their evolving investment needs in this complex world.”

Ms. Lai brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and institutional business in the financial industry. She joins AXA IM from an international asset management firm, where she has led the business development efforts in the Asia (ex-Japan) institutional client segment.

To further bolster the institutional business, Mr Kyle Wang, has been appointed as Head of Sovereign and Supranational Entities (SSE), Asia. Kyle brings with him his extensive industry experience and regional knowledge and was instrumental in growing the institutional business in the region, a segment where AXA IM has already established a strong footprint.  Mr Wang will also be reporting to Mr Lam and will work closely with Ms Lai to extend AXA IM’s presence in the institutional and SSE space in Asia together.

“Institutional clients remain a key focus for AXA IM’s Asian growth strategy, where we continue to see robust momentum,” enthused Mr Matt Lovatt, Global Head of Client Group Core and AXA IM’s Management Board member. “The enhanced team will reinforce the business coverage of AXA IM Core across the region, as we uphold our pledge to uncover global investment opportunities and offer active, long-term, and responsible investment solutions for our valued clients.”

Efforts by AXA IM, a global asset management company that manages in excess of US$1.05trn of assets globally as of December 2020, are underway in terms of expanding its Asian resources, not only to serve the needs of local clients but also to provide its global clients with investment expertise in this fast-growing region. Overall, the new hires and appointments support the firm’s longer-term business ambitions in Asia and reflect AXA IM’s commitment to its clients and investors as well as its acute focus on active, responsible and long-term investment solutions.