The head of ABN AMRO Investment Solutions has ambitions to expand the firm’s UK footprint as it continues its ESG push.
ABN Amro Bank’s asset manager has €20bn (£17bn) of assets under management and runs a range of funds with ESG requirements.
François-Xavier Geneté, CEO of ABN AMRO Investment Solutions, said his firm offers access to open architecture investments and is committed to ESG requirements, saying this is not just a trend.
Genetais said the company takes ESG seriously.
“We know what our clients want, and we distinguish between clients who are truly looking for ESG and those who are looking for growth over value,” he told FT Advisor.
“When we started, that wasn’t the trend, but we recognized it and have been doing this for 25 years now.
“Today, our peers believe they need to follow the trend and build ESG portfolios.
“If we want to protect humanity, we really need to get ESG moving, because it’s not just about investing.”
He told FT Adviser that the company is currently focused on the European market but is also looking at expanding into the UK.
“We would like to be based in the UK but for now our focus is on the UK market,” he said.
“As we have an asset management business in the UK, it was a natural fit for us to have a relationship with DFM and we are keen to grow this business.”
The company offers investors a panel of funds that have already completed all operational and fund manager due diligence.
The company claims to offer European and UK investors access to fund managers that are not normally accessible to them.
tara.o’connor@ft.com
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