Smith will focus on GIB AM’s active products – the Emerging Markets Active Engagement Fund and the Sustainable World Corporate Bond Fund, the firm said in a statement. He will also support GIB AM’s indexation offering and play a part in expanding the firm’s emerging markets strategies. This includes the potential launch of a globally distributed GCC-focused fund and assessing targeted acquisitions to complement the firm’s existing emerging markets equity and global fixed income strategies.

Smith brings more than 30 years of investment experience to GIB AM, from a career which has included senior roles such as deputy CIO at Ruffer, CIO at JO Hambro, and nearly two decades as fund manager and head of global equities at M&G. He began his career at JP Morgan Asset Management after training at Price Waterhouse Coopers.

“This marks an important and strategic step for GIB Asset Management,” Katherine Garrett-Cox, CEO at GIB AM, said. “Bringing Aled on board strengthens our leadership and enables our investment teams to remain sharply focused on identifying and executing high-conviction opportunities for our clients.”

Crestbridge Family Office Services
(FOS) has appointed private client and family office professional Steve Le Seelleur as managing director.

Following Steve Sokic’s arrival as chairman earlier this year, and alongside CEO Heather Tibbo, Le Seelleur (all pictured below) will add senior industry expertise to the independent and privately-owned private client trust and family office-focused firm.

(Left to right: Steve Le Seelleur, Heather Tibbo, and Steve Sokic)

Le Seelleur, who is responsible for business performance, will be working alongside Tibbo and Sokic to lead a team of “highly talented and experienced trust professionals” to ensure exceptional client service, the firm said in a statement.

With more than 25 years in the fiduciary and wealth management industry, Le Seelleur has gained experience in many jurisdictions, particularly in the Middle East.

Prior to joining Crestbridge FOS, Le Seelleur was managing director of the Jersey office of a private equity-owned global financial services business. Before that, he was a director and member of the executive committee of HSBC Private Bank’s trust business in Jersey. He has also sat on boards of private trust companies and managed trust structures with a wide variety of asset classes, and is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

“Since establishing the business in 2013, our vision has always been to set new standards of technical expertise and service excellence within our discipline,” Tibbo said. “A senior executive team that can clearly demonstrate those qualities is absolutely critical, and for that reason I’m delighted to welcome someone of Steve’s calibre to the business. The experience and knowledge he has gained throughout his career, together with his proven ability to lead and develop teams and his belief in the importance of client service, will be invaluable as we continue to support our clients with their wealth planning needs and pursue our bold and ambitious growth plans.”

KKR
, aka Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, has appointed Mikael Markman as a managing director within KKR’s Global Client Solutions business, where he will lead the firm’s family capital efforts in France.

Based in Paris, Markman will be responsible for expanding KKR’s presence among families, founders and entrepreneurs across French-speaking markets in EMEA, helping to deepen relationships and identify long-term opportunities for partnership.

Previously, Markman served as managing director and head of French sponsors at Nomura in Paris, where he advised both domestic and international financial sponsors on a wide range of M&A and financing mandates. At Nomura he worked with family offices, founders, managers and private capital investors. Earlier in his career, Markman worked at Rothschild, Morgan Stanley, and UBS, serving in their financial institutions groups in London and Paris.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mikael as our dedicated senior relationship lead for Family Capital in France and French speaking markets,” Doug Brody, partner and head of Americas and EMEA Family Capital at KKR, said. “His deep knowledge of the local market and trusted relationships with business owners, founders, managers and family offices will be instrumental as we continue to originate differentiated investment and capital markets opportunities and deliver tailored solutions across asset classes.”

Jérôme Nommé, partner and head of KKR France, added: "Mikael’s arrival comes at an important time as we continue to expand our Paris office and deepen our engagement with France’s family-owned businesses and entrepreneurial community. With more than two decades of experience in the French market, KKR remains committed to supporting local clients with global expertise, and Mikael will be instrumental in strengthening those long-term relationships."

Since 2002, KKR has invested more than €10 billion ($11.68 billion) in French businesses, supporting founders and families with flexible capital and global expertise to help scale operations, create jobs, and compete internationally.