Leoni replaces Fasso as Axa IM's Asia chief

Axa Investment Managers has named Jean-Pierre Leoni as its new Asia-Pacific head in Hong Kong to replace Anthony Fasso, who has joined AMP Capital Investors in Hong Kong.

Leoni was previously Paris-based head of the product specialist unit, which he set up in 2005. He joined Axa IM in 1998 as head of credit. Spokeswoman Monique Inge could not reveal who will replace Leoni, but said someone will be in place by January 1, the date he arrives in Asia.

Reporting to Axa IM chief executive Dominique Carrel-Billiard, Leoni will be responsible for the development of the firm's presence in the region, including Australia.

Axa IM also plans to further strengthen its sales teams in the region in the coming months, but Inge could not reveal any more details, apart from saying that the plan is to hire local Mandarin speakers.

Before joining Axa IM, Leoni spent three years (1995-1997) at Credit Commercial de France initially as head of fixed-income trading and then as head of the product and credit analysis department. Prior to that, he worked for CPR as an arbitrage specialist (1992-1994) and for BTP Gestion as a fund manager (1989-1992).

Fasso had been with Axa IM in Hong Kong since 2005, having previously worked at Deutsche Bank's private wealth group in Australia.