AXA IM Alts, the alternative investments specialist, has expanded its global network with the opening of its first office in the Middle East.
AXA IM Alts has been granted its financial services permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to establish a category 4 license firm within ADGM.
The new office in Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre will be AXA IM Alts’ 16th globally and will be primarily focused on capital raising across AXA IM Alts’ private and alternative assets range, as well as local client servicing.
AXA IM Alts has appointed Ammar Bukhamsin as, and promoted François Boissin to, co-head of the MENA client group Alts. Additionally, Ammar Bukhamsin will serve as the senior executive officer of AXA IM Middle East. Both will report directly to Florence Dard, global head of client group at AXA IM Alts.
Isabelle Scemama, global head of AXA IM Alts, commented: 'The opening of our new office in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in our expansion strategy and underscores the strategic importance of the Middle East in our international growth plans.
'This move marks a natural progression for our business in the region and paves the way for further successful partnerships with local investors to meet their rapidly evolving investment requirements, across AXA IM Alts’ expertise.'
Before joining AXA IM Alts, Bukhamsin previously spent over eight years at Natixis, including three years as the firm’s CEO for Saudi Arabia, during a 20-year career encompassing senior sales roles at Goldman Sachs, UBS and Citi. He will be based in Abu Dhabi.
Boissin has spent the past nine years within AXA, first as vice president, investor relations for the AXA Group and then in capital raising at AXA IM Alts for the past two years, as part of a 20-year career in finance and sales. He will remain based in Paris.
Said Dard: 'Having built strong relationships in the Middle East over a number of years, the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi is a natural step forward in our strategy to both grow our presence and accelerate our business development in the region.
'As a global leading alternative player, we have actively engaged with a large number of sophisticated Middle Eastern investors who seek attractive alternative investment opportunities, especially in Europe where we have a unique sourcing, access and breadth of offering.'
Arvind Ramamurthy, chief of market development at ADGM said: 'We congratulate and welcome AXA IM Alts on its recent expansion with a dedicated presence within ADGM, Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre.
'Abu Dhabi, also known as the 'Capital of Capital,' has become a premier destination due to its sophisticated regulatory regimes and abundant investment opportunities. As an anchored asset management firm, we look forward to the various expertise and innovative capabilities that AXA IM Alts will bring to ADGM’s vibrant ecosystem and to the region.'
