Natixis IM appoints head of wholesale distribution

Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM) Australia has appointed former Yarra Capital Management executive Rommel Hacopian as head of wholesale distribution.

The new hire comes as the global asset manager ramps up its expansion plans in Australia, including a pipeline of new active exchange-traded funds and managed funds.

Hacopian, who joins from Yarra Capital Management where he served as head of intermediary, will lead Natixis IM's wholesale distribution strategy across Australia. Based in Sydney, he will report to Australia and New Zealand head Danny King.

The appointment comes as Natixis IM seeks to deepen relationships with advisers and intermediaries while broadening access to investment strategies managed by its network of affiliated global investment managers.

King said the appointment supports the firm's next phase of growth after expanding its wholesale presence over the past three years.

"Rommel is the ideal person to lead our wholesale client relationships and provide Australian investors with access to best-in-class active investment strategies through our global network of affiliated investment managers," King said.

"Natixis IM has been growing rapidly in Australia over the past three years since entering the wholesale market, and Rommel's deep expertise and relationships across the breadth of the wholesale channel will help more of our clients understand and access the depth of our offering."

Natixis IM said it has an ambitious product development pipeline over the coming years, with plans to launch additional active ETFs and managed funds while introducing more of its global affiliates to Australian investors.

Hacopian, who has more than three decades of investment industry experience, said advisers were increasingly seeking specialist global capabilities as markets and regulatory requirement became more complex.

"Today's wholesale client is highly sophisticated navigating ever changing market conditions and operating in a complex regulatory environment with deep fiduciary obligations," he said.

"What draws me to Natixis IM is the combination of the successful quality affiliated investment managers, underpinned by the operational excellence required to support our clients across their investment and governance needs."

Natixis IM's Australian wholesale offering currently includes managed funds and active ETFs managed by affiliates including Loomis Sayles, Vaughan Nelson, Mirova Flexstone Partners and IML.

The appointment follows broader changes across the Natixis IM group, with Léa Dunand-Chatellet assuming the chief executive role at affiliate Mirova last week as the sustainable investment specialist looks to strengthen its international expansion.