ROLE PROFILES
The UK’s exit from the EU saw many investment management houses with a strong London presence choosing to expand their offerings in Europe. Post-Brexit, this trend continues, with even more firms opening offices on the continent. Whilst big financial hubs in Europe have typically included Luxembourg, Dublin and Frankfurt, new hotspots are arising in Amsterdam and Zurich, cities which have recently seen an increase in roles across both Distribution and Operations. Madrid is also becoming a focal point given both the recent growth in Spanish and LatAm markets. We have been notified by a handful of clients of the opening of their Madrid offices in late 2023 / early 2024.
The smaller talent pool available in Europe has often meant Diversity & Inclusion have been lowered on the hiring agenda, but we are pleased to see that more hiring managers on the continent are now having an active push on recruiting diverse talent.
There has also been an exceptional number of internal promotions within European hires over the last year. This comes as a result of the pandemic, which has prompted native Europeans to return to their home countries, as well as resulting from the struggle to hire caliber when recruiting externally.
PREDICTIONS
As with London, the private markets arena in Europe continues to flourish. Candidates in the Sales and Product space are those most sought-after to lead on growth for investment management firms pushing into private markets.
With an increased demand for regulation in Europe, candidates with strong control backgrounds are highly sought-after.
Amsterdam was undoubtedly the area where we saw the most roles in 2022, a trend we expect to continue in 2023. Unlike many of its EU counterparts, Amsterdam goes the distance to cut down the amount of red tape inhibiting investment deals. It has lenience towards proprietary trading firms, allowing them to trade with institutional investors directly, rather than as clients (a practice insisted upon by most EU countries). This approach makes Amsterdam an attractive option for investment management businesses and a more appealing financial capital than most European alternatives.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
- Marleen Barents-Jager – Director of Business Development – Benelux & Nordics at Nikko (placed by our sister company, Ludgate Search), Amsterdam
- Edouard Jozan – Head of Distribution Europe at Allianz Global Investors, Paris
- Kees Verbaas – Global Head of Fundamental Equity at Robeco, Rotterdam
- Anne Catherine Grave – Country Head of Luxembourg at Crestbridge, Luxembourg