AXA IM Alts has announced a number of senior appointments to its Australian leadership team with Antoine Mesnage joining as head of Australia effective 1 October, replacing Kumar Kalyanakumar.
The business also announced the promotions of Chris Willey and James Cox to head of asset management and ESG, and head of fund management for AXA IM Alts in Australia, respectively, replacing Quentin Shaw who previously held the combined role of head of asset and funds management.
Both Kalyanakumar and Shaw were thanked for their instrumental involvement in developing the enterprise in the Australian market and would depart the business on 30 September.
Mesnage, who was currently head of transactions for France at AXA IM Alts, would be relocating to Australia and would bring over 16 years of real estate investment management expertise.
Willey had over 27 years’ experience in the institutional fund management sector and had specialised expertise in ESG integration into asset management within the local market.
Meanwhile Cox brought a wealth of expertise spanning a number of different roles within the real estate and fund management sector and had spent the past several years spearheading the AXA Group’s deployment of capital in the Australian market. Both had over 15 years with the Australian business.
Laurent Jacquemin, head of Asia Pacific at AXA IM Alts, said: “The Australian business is integral to our sizeable growth ambitions for the APAC region. Antoine brings significant knowledge, skills and years of expertise from his time in Europe, and I look forward to working with him to spearhead the next phase of growth in the Australian market. As longstanding senior members of the Australian business, and with a deep understanding of the local market, Chris and James will be instrumental in complementing Antoine in achieving our growth ambitions.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the passion and energy of Kumar in repositioning and transforming the business as the leading alternative real estate investment manager in Australia. I would also like to thank Quentin for his commitment to AXA IM Alts over the past six years and in steering the asset and funds management parts of the business in an excellent manner.”
