The asset management business of Societe Generale has a new CEO in Japan.

Lyxor Asset Management, the fund house owned by Societe Generale, has appointed Laurent Renaud as its chief executive in Japan, effective immediately. He replaces Toshiro Kubozono, who retired after nine years in the role.

Based in Tokyo, Renaud reports to Lionel Paquin, CEO, Lyxor Asset Management, and locally to Raphael Cheminat, group country head for Japan at Societe Generale.

Renaud first came to Japan in 1993 as an exchange student at Hitotsubashi University. After fulfilling his military service as an overseas volunteer in Tokyo, he joined Banque Indosuez in Paris as an inspector in 1995. In 1996, he returned to Tokyo to work as a trade attaché at the French Embassy.

In 2000, he was hired by BNP Paribas Securities Japan to join its newly-created corporate finance department, working on M&A transactions and private equity placements. He moved to the equities and derivatives department as head of the business management team in 2005, leading various new projects to expand the business beyond its structured products franchise. In 2008, Renaud was assigned to BNP Paribas’ group headquarters in Paris as deputy head of FIG International, a coverage team in charge of developing relationships with financial institutions outside Europe.

In 2012, he joined BNP Paribas Investment Partners Japan (the Japanese asset management subsidiary of BNP Paribas) as chief operating officer.