Mark Richards has been named head of flexible and absolute return within BNP Paribas Asset Management’s multi-asset quantitative & solutions (MAQS) investment division, which manages assets totalling €135bn (£116bn), including around €116bn in multi-asset portfolios on behalf of institutional and intermediary clients, globally.
Based in London and reporting to Maya Bhandari (pictured), global head of multi asset, he joined the firm on 5 September.
Richards was previously a senior fund manager at Jupiter Asset Management, which he joined in November 2018, with responsibility for identifying and implementing key investment themes across a range of flexible and multi-asset strategies. Prior to Jupiter, he held buy-side strategist roles at JP Morgan Asset Management and Pimco, and sell-side strategist roles at Credit Suisse and ING, having started his career as an economist at Lombard Street Research.
At BNPP AM, Richards will be responsible for the performance of its flexible and absolute return funds and ensuring the alignment of portfolios with the views of the investment committee.
He will also work closely with the other teams within MAQS to exchange investment ideas, as well as contributing to the development of the broader MAQS product range as it expands its innovative offering.
Bhandari said: “Mark has more than 20 years’ experience of economics and financial markets experienced gained at leading sell-side and buy-side institutions, during which time he has successfully generated and implemented investment ideas across a range of countries, sectors, factors and themes.
“His addition to the team will be invaluable as we expand our multi-asset capabilities and continue to deliver sustainable returns to our investors in a challenging macroeconomic environment, and I look forward to working with him.”
