BNP Paribas Asset Management Names Steven Billiet as Head of APAC

BNP Paribas Asset Management announced this Wednesday that it had appointed a new Head of Asia Pacific, with Steven Billiet, a veteran within the region, to succeed Ligia Torres, who will be retiring from the France-based company.

BNP Paribas Asset Management is the dedicated, autonomous asset management business of BNP Paribas Group. Billiet, who joined the company earlier this year, will commence the new role on the 8th of August 2020.

Currently, Billiet is the Head of Distribution Asia Pacific and, although he will be taking on the new role, will still retain his regional distribution responsibilities, the company said in its statement.

Billiet is currently based in Hong Kong, and as the Head of APAC for BNP Paribas AM, he will report to Sandro Pierri, BNP Paribas AM's Global Head of Client Group. Locally, Billiet will report to Eric Raynaud, Head of BNP Paribas in the Asia Pacific.

His career, which spans across more than two decades, has seen him work at a number of financial companies. In particular, he spent the majority of his career working for various branches of ING.

Over his career in the financial services, which stretches for 25 years, 18 of those years have been in Chief Executive Officer roles across a number of regions - Australia, India, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Steven Billiet joined BNP Paribas from JPMorgan

Before joining the French bank, Billiet was the CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where he spent nearly six and a half years, according to his LinkedIn profile. In this position, he had the overall responsibility for the investment management activities in Singapore, was the Head of funds for SEA, India, Korea, and Australia.

Commenting on the appointment, Frédéric Janbon, Chief Executive Officer of BNPP AM, said in the statement: "Steven's experience in leading asset management firms in the Asia Pacific enables him to have an acute understanding of business development in the region. I have every confidence in his ability to offer our clients the best solutions and services in what is a strategic growth region for BNP Paribas Asset Management.

"I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ligia, who has been with BNP Paribas for more than 23, including seven with BNP Paribas Asset Management. During her tenure at the firm, she has contributed to significant growth in the region, and played a particularly important role in upholding the firm's sustainability strategy and enhancing our external visibility on the sustainable investment agenda with our clients."