AXA Investment Managers has announced its expansion into the Middle East region and appointed Ammar Bukhamsin as the Senior Executive Officer & Co-Head of the MENA region.

As part of the expansion strategy, the Alts investment firm has also established a new office in Abu Dhabi, located in Abu Dhabi Global Market. Ammar, along with François Boissin, who has been promoted to Co-Head role, will spearhead the expansion efforts across the MENA region. Both Ammar and François will report directly to Florence Dard, Global Head of Client Group at AXA IM Alts.

In his new role, Ammar brings over two decades of industry leadership experience. Before joining AXA in January 2024, he worked with Natixis as the CEO and Managing Director of Saudi Arabia. In his previous roles, he served Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Citi in key positions. On the academic front, he holds a BS degree in Finance and Economics from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.

On the other hand, François brings over two decades of industry leadership experience and joined AXA as the Vice President of Investor Relations in 2015. Prior to that, he worked with Exane BNP Paribas and Oliver Wyman in key roles. He will, however, be based in the Paris HQ.

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Announcing the expansion strategy and key appointments, Isabelle Scemama, Global Head of AXA IM Alts, said, “The opening of our new office in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in our expansion strategy and underscores the strategic importance of the Middle East in our international growth plans. This move marks a natural progression for our business in the region and paves the way for further successful partnerships with local investors to meet their rapidly evolving investment requirements across AXA IM Alts’ expertise.”

Florence Dard, Global Head of Client Group at AXA IM Alts, added, “Having built strong relationships in the Middle East over a number of years, the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi is a natural step forward in our strategy to both grow our presence and accelerate our business development in the region. As a globally leading alternative player, we have actively engaged with a large number of sophisticated Middle Eastern investors who seek attractive alternative investment opportunities, especially in Europe where we have a unique sourcing, access, and breadth of offering.”

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief of Market Development at ADGM, also commented, “We congratulate and welcome AXA IM Alts on its recent expansion with a dedicated presence within ADGM, Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre. Abu Dhabi, also known as the 'Capital of Capital,' has become a premier destination due to its sophisticated regulatory regimes and abundant investment opportunities. As an anchored asset management firm, we look forward to the various expertise and innovative capabilities that AXA IM Alts will bring to ADGM’s vibrant ecosystem and to the region.”