The French banking group Natixis has created two investment departments within its asset management business, appointing two chief investment officers to replace its deputy CEO in charge of investments.

Ibrahima Kobar and Emmanuel Bourdeix have been appointed as CIO of fixed income and CIO of equity, asset allocation and structured products, respectively, to replace Dominique Sabassier. The pair, who both report to Pascal Voisin in their new roles, will also join Natixis Asset Management’s executive committee.

Kobar was latterly head of bond management at Natixis, a role he had held since 2007 when he joined the firm from Ixis Asset Management. Bourdeix, meanwhile, was most recently head of equity Europe, world and emerging countries at CAAM, having previously been the firm’s deputy CEO of equity and diversified management.  

Natixis Asset Management has €302 billion (around $387 billion) in assets under management in Europe, as at end-June 2010; internationally, Natixis Global Asset Management has €532 billion in AuM.