The latest international appointments

Qatar builds on its asset management aspirations and Pioneer makes Nordic appointment.

Qatar builds on strategic focus

The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority has appointed Bob Wigley as a Non-Executive Director to build up Qatar's status as an asset management hub.

Previously Chairman of Merrill Lynch Europe, Middle East and Africa, Bob’s current roles include being Chairman of Yell Group. He was appointed an Ambassador for UK Business by David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, in 2011.

In line with the QFC Authority’s strategic focus on Asset Management, Reinsurance and Captives Insurance, a key part of Mr. Wigley’s role will be to widely promote Qatar to the global fund management industry as a major regional hub for asset management.

Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Shaibi, Managing Director of the QFC Authority, said:
“Bob’s vast experience, both globally and in the Middle East, his contacts and his deep knowledge of financial centres and the asset management industry will be hugely valuable to the QFC Authority. This is an excellent appointment and we very much look forward to working with Bob over the next few years.”

Commenting on his appointment, Bob Wigley said: “I’ve been hugely impressed by Qatar as a country and Doha as a developing financial centre. The QFC Authority has a strong platform to build upon and a clear strategy as to how to attract leading financial institutions to the country. These are very exciting times for Qatar and I look forward to playing my part in ensuring that the global asset management industry is fully aware of everything we have to offer.”


Pioneer makes Netherlands and Nordics appointment

Pioneer Investments has appointed Michel van Mazijk as Head of Institutional Business for the Netherlands and Nordics. Located in Amsterdam, he will be responsible for the ongoing development and promotion of Pioneer Investments proposition for the institutional market in the Netherlands and Nordics and will lead the sales efforts across this key channel.

Van Mazik will report directly to Fabien Madar, Head of Western and Northern Europe.  Commenting on his appointment, van Mazik said: “There are extensive investment opportunities for investors to benefit from the current market environment and Pioneer Investments specialism in areas of European and US fixed income and equities as well as a range of multi asset strategies make it an exciting place to be.”

Previously van Mazik was at ING Investment Management, where he was responsible for the development for the Dutch institutional market for ING’s fiduciary proposition. Prior to that, he was responsible for relationship management and business development in the institutional market in Northern Europe at Vanguard Investments Europe in Amsterdam.