Our conception of governancee
The attention we pay to governance is a legacy to which we are attached. More than 30 years of expertise have taught us that good managers instil a vision and implement ambitious social and environmental policies.
Our governance analysis criteria
Existence of checks and balances
Relevance of the functions represented on the Management Committee
Respect for minority shareholders
Evaluation of non-financial risks
Transparency of financial information
Governance
Our first requirement is one of quality governance, just as we expect of the companies we invest in. Owned 100% by LBP AM, LFDE has a two-tier governance structure: a general management committee and an executive committee. Several other governance bodies provide direction in terms of adopting best practices, such as the ethics, product and innovation committees. We went a step further in 2021 and created a Climate and Biodiversity Committee, involving all internal stakeholders in order to step up our transformation and implement a climate strategy at the heart of our company. Moreover, we chose to house most of our funds in SICAVs to afford them the best governance practices. Our Echiquier Impact SICAV has a Board of Directors made up of independent members who are all experts and capable of challenging us.
Management committee
CEO
After earning a degree from EM Lyon Business School, Bettina Ducat began her career in 2001 as a strategy consultant for Accenture. She joined AXA IM in 2006, the Management Board in 2018 and was appointed head of Global Distribution in January 2019. In July 2020, Bettina Ducat was appointed Managing Director of La Financière de l’Echiquier and Deputy CEO in charge of Asset Management for Primonial Group.
Deputy CEO
Bertrand Merveille graduated from the University of Caen (IUP Banque Assurance). He holds a postgraduate degree in law and financial market economics. Bertrand has spent most of his career at the AMF (French financial markets authority): From 2003 to 2008, he was a UCITS Analyst, responsible for the management company portfolio, then in 2008 he became Deputy Director and subsequently Director of the Investment Services Providers department. He joined Financière de l’Echiquier as Head of Compliance and Internal Control in 2011, and in 2016 was appointed Head of Private Client Management. He is a member of the Management Committee. He was also appointed Deputy CEO in April 2019.
Deputy CEO & Chief Investment Officer
Olivier de Berranger is a graduate of HEC. From 1990, he successively held positions as trader and then manager of the cash and derivative interest rate products trading desk at Credit Lyonnais and then Calyon. He subsequently served as Head of Capital Markets at First Finance, a consulting and training company. He joined La Financière de l’Echiquier as a fixed income fund manager in March 2007. He is in charge of the compartment of the Echiquier Patrimoine mutual fund invested in fixed income products and manages the Echiquier ARTY SRI, Echiquier Credit Europe and Echiquier Patrimoine mutual funds. In 2017, he was appointed CIO and joined the Executive Committee.
CEO
After earning a degree from EM Lyon Business School, Bettina Ducat began her career in 2001 as a strategy consultant for Accenture. She joined AXA IM in 2006, the Management Board in 2018 and was appointed head of Global Distribution in January 2019. In July 2020, Bettina Ducat was appointed Managing Director of La Financière de l’Echiquier and Deputy CEO in charge of Asset Management for Primonial Group.
Deputy CEO
Bertrand Merveille graduated from the University of Caen (IUP Banque Assurance). He holds a postgraduate degree in law and financial market economics. Bertrand has spent most of his career at the AMF (French financial markets authority): From 2003 to 2008, he was a UCITS Analyst, responsible for the management company portfolio, then in 2008 he became Deputy Director and subsequently Director of the Investment Services Providers department. He joined Financière de l’Echiquier as Head of Compliance and Internal Control in 2011, and in 2016 was appointed Head of Private Client Management. He is a member of the Management Committee. He was also appointed Deputy CEO in April 2019.
Deputy CEO & Chief Investment Officer
Olivier de Berranger is a graduate of HEC. From 1990, he successively held positions as trader and then manager of the cash and derivative interest rate products trading desk at Credit Lyonnais and then Calyon. He subsequently served as Head of Capital Markets at First Finance, a consulting and training company. He joined La Financière de l’Echiquier as a fixed income fund manager in March 2007. He is in charge of the compartment of the Echiquier Patrimoine mutual fund invested in fixed income products and manages the Echiquier ARTY SRI, Echiquier Credit Europe and Echiquier Patrimoine mutual funds. In 2017, he was appointed CIO and joined the Executive Committee.
Board of directors
Corporate Secretary
Edouard Duffour pursued a degree in business administration and then in accounting in 2014. He began his career as an auditor at Deloitte. He subsequently joined the accounting firm Cælis, providing audit and advice services to companies including Natixis Private Equity International. He joined La Financière de l'Echiquier in 2015 as Chief Administrative and Financial Officer. In 2020, Edouard Duffour was appointed Secretary General in charge of Finance and Operations (Middle Office, Partner Management, IT and General Services) and joins La Financière de l'Echiquier's Executive Committee.
Head of marketing & communication
Anne-Laure began her career in 1995 at Paribas. She joined Exane BNP Paribas in 1998 where she spent eight years as financial analyst. She switched in 2006 to marketing and product development at AXA Investment Managers. In 2008, she moved into Private Equity at Groupama Private Equity, where she created and headed the Investor Relations and Marketing team. She joined La Financière de l’Echiquier in 2016 as Institutional sales then in 2018 took over the Product Marketing and Client Service team. In 2019, she was appointed Director of Marketing and Communication and joined the Executive Committee. Anne-Laure holds a Master in Management with a specialization in Finance from ESSEC business school in Paris. She holds a financial analyst diploma from the French Society of Financial Analysts.
Chief Compliance Officer
Caroline Farrugia holds a DESS in Finance from the University of Paris-Assas and began her career as an account manager for 5 years in Arthur Andersen's Asset Management division. She later spent 15 years at OFI AM as Chief Compliance Officer and continued her career as Primonial’s Chief Compliance Officer and Risk for asset management companies. Caroline joined LFDE as compliance officer in March 2018, before becoming Chief Compliance Officer in 2020 with a seat on the Executive Committee.
Business Development Manager, French Institutional Investors & Key Accounts
Robert Véla is a graduate from ESVE in marketing and management. He worked as Senior Sales Manager at Europerformance, Crédit Mutuel Asset Management and ING Investments Management. He joined Neuflize OBC Investissements before moving on to Primonial Group in 2014 as Head of Institutional Sales and wholesale distribution. Robert Véla joined La Financière de l'Echiquier in 2018 and the Executive Committee in 2020.
Chief Operating Officer
A graduate of Rouen Business School, MBA from Ottawa University and qualified accountant, Elsa Scoury started her career as an auditor in asset management at PwC. She joined La Financière de l'Echiquier in 2015, working, first, as Chief Compliance Officer then Deputy CFO. Elsa was appointed CCO in 2020 with a seatin the Executive Committee.
Corporate Secretary
Edouard Duffour pursued a degree in business administration and then in accounting in 2014. He began his career as an auditor at Deloitte. He subsequently joined the accounting firm Cælis, providing audit and advice services to companies including Natixis Private Equity International. He joined La Financière de l'Echiquier in 2015 as Chief Administrative and Financial Officer. In 2020, Edouard Duffour was appointed Secretary General in charge of Finance and Operations (Middle Office, Partner Management, IT and General Services) and joins La Financière de l'Echiquier's Executive Committee.
Head of marketing & communication
Anne-Laure began her career in 1995 at Paribas. She joined Exane BNP Paribas in 1998 where she spent eight years as financial analyst. She switched in 2006 to marketing and product development at AXA Investment Managers. In 2008, she moved into Private Equity at Groupama Private Equity, where she created and headed the Investor Relations and Marketing team. She joined La Financière de l’Echiquier in 2016 as Institutional sales then in 2018 took over the Product Marketing and Client Service team. In 2019, she was appointed Director of Marketing and Communication and joined the Executive Committee. Anne-Laure holds a Master in Management with a specialization in Finance from ESSEC business school in Paris. She holds a financial analyst diploma from the French Society of Financial Analysts.
Chief Compliance Officer
Caroline Farrugia holds a DESS in Finance from the University of Paris-Assas and began her career as an account manager for 5 years in Arthur Andersen's Asset Management division. She later spent 15 years at OFI AM as Chief Compliance Officer and continued her career as Primonial’s Chief Compliance Officer and Risk for asset management companies. Caroline joined LFDE as compliance officer in March 2018, before becoming Chief Compliance Officer in 2020 with a seat on the Executive Committee.
Business Development Manager, French Institutional Investors & Key Accounts
Robert Véla is a graduate from ESVE in marketing and management. He worked as Senior Sales Manager at Europerformance, Crédit Mutuel Asset Management and ING Investments Management. He joined Neuflize OBC Investissements before moving on to Primonial Group in 2014 as Head of Institutional Sales and wholesale distribution. Robert Véla joined La Financière de l'Echiquier in 2018 and the Executive Committee in 2020.
Chief Operating Officer
A graduate of Rouen Business School, MBA from Ottawa University and qualified accountant, Elsa Scoury started her career as an auditor in asset management at PwC. She joined La Financière de l'Echiquier in 2015, working, first, as Chief Compliance Officer then Deputy CFO. Elsa was appointed CCO in 2020 with a seatin the Executive Committee.