The latest moves, appointments and personnel changes among wealth management and related organisations in the UK, the rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and select international locations.

Investment Association
Ann Prendergast, executive vice president and head of EMEA at State Street Investment Management, has been appointed as the new chair of the UK-based Investment Association’s board of directors.

As chair of the board, Prendergast (pictured) will be responsible for championing the investment management industry and the role it plays in both driving economic growth and building the financial resilience of households across the UK.

The IA Board is made up of senior leaders from across the investment management industry and plays an influential role in helping the sector navigate and respond to the evolving geopolitical, market and regulatory landscape.

Prendergast, who joined the IA Board in May 2024, will replace Patrick Thomson, CEO, EMEA, JP Morgan Asset Management and become chair at the AGM on 17 September 2025. She has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry, including two decades at State Street Investment Management.

“Ann’s extensive experience, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to our industry make her exceptionally well-suited to lead us through this pivotal period. Her deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing investment management, combined with her proven track record of championing innovation and diversity, ensure she will be a powerful advocate for our members and the savers we serve across the UK,” Chris Cummings, chief executive of the IA, said. “I would also like to extend my thanks to Patrick Thomson for his three years as IA chair. Patrick has been a true advocate for, and leader, of the industry during his tenure.”

Constantine Law
Constantine Law, a consultant-led employment and regulatory specialist law firm, has recruited Tina Lakhani (pictured below) as a new partner to join its regulatory team.

Tina Lakhani

Lakhani – ranked in the Legal 500 for corporate crime services – is an experienced lawyer, police station representative and higher court advocate. She specialises in cases of financial crime, fraud and regulatory investigations, advising and defending individuals, professionals and corporations who are subject to investigation or prosecution. Lakhani has extensive experience of dealing with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and in professional discipline investigations involving the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the General Medical Council (GMC), and the General Dental Council (GDC).

She is also experienced in cross-jurisdictional matters and dealing with cases involving mutual legal assistance. Lakhani regularly drafts policies in relation to bribery and money laundering for companies. She has been involved in defending complex FCA civil, criminal and regulatory cases for senior executives and firms and has worked on numerous insider dealing cases including the first cross-jurisdiction prosecution of insider dealing by the FCA. Other high profile FCA cases include LIBOR, and insider dealing cases include Operation Tabernula and Operation Saturn. Lakhani has also been involved in high-profile SFO investigations including into Rolls-Royce.

“We welcome Tina to the firm. Her wide-ranging experience brings even further depth to our regulatory practice and boosts our reputation in this increasingly complex legal market,” managing partner John Hayes said. “As a firm we are expanding and our ability to recruit partners of Tina’s level shows both our growing reputation and the attractions of working for a progressive, collegiate firm like ours without the fixed costs and targets of many firms.”

Lakhani’s appointment, which follows the recent the recruitment of “high-profile” regulatory partner John Milner in March, brings the firm’s regulatory practice to six partners, with a total number of 17 partners and 23 fee-earning staff, the firm said in a statement.

BNP Paribas Group, AXA Investment Managers
Following the completion of BNP Paribas Cardiff’s acquisition of AXA Investment Managers on 1 July 2025, AXA IM (now part of BNP Paribas Group) and BNP Paribas Asset Management have made transitional leadership appointments for the future investment platform.

These hires are subject to the planned legal merger of BNPP AM, AXA IM and BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management (BNPP REIM) – expected by the end of this year and until the final operating model is implemented.

Isabelle Scemama has been appointed to lead the combined alternatives capabilities, across AXA IM Alts, AXA IM Prime, BNPP REIM and BNPP AM’s Private Assets, in addition to her current role as global head of AXA IM Alts. This combined structure brings together over €300 billion ($350.8 billion) in alternatives AuM, across real estate, infrastructure, private debt and alternative credit and private equity, establishing the largest alternatives investment management platform in Europe.

Rob Gambi has been appointed to lead the combined liquid investment capabilities, across AXA IM Core and BNPP AM, in addition to his current role as global head of Investments at BNPP AM. The combined structure for liquid strategies represents over €1,000 billion AuM, with close to €700 billion in active fixed income (including money market funds), over €40 billion in ETFs and is globally ranked as second on active thematics.

They both report to Sandro Pierri, CEO of AXA IM and BNPP AM.

“These appointments are intended to guide the investment platforms through the period of integration,” Pierri said. “I have complete confidence in Isabelle and Rob’s exceptional leadership abilities to guide our teams through this transition. Their deep expertise and proven track records will be instrumental in ensuring continuity and driving us forward, as we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our clients.”