Schroders today announces that it has gained regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to open an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The office will enable Schroders to broaden its distribution reach in the Middle East.
With a history dating back over 200 years and with $259.5 billion under management as at 31 March 2007, Schroders is one of the world’s leading independent asset managers. Schroders has been providing asset management solutions for clients in the Middle East for over 30 years.
As part of the Middle East team, headed by Patrick Grant in London, the Dubai office will initially be staffed by Stephane Battistella, William Wells and Andrew Robbens, who together have over 24 years experience working for Schroders. Through the Dubai office, Schroders will offer professional investors a broad set of products and solutions. Alongside active management in core Equity and Fixed Income asset classes, Schroders offers innovative alternative investment products, including Hedge Fund of Funds, Property and Commodities.
Stephane Battistella, Head of Middle East Business Development, commented:
“Schroders has been active in the Middle East for 30 years and already have an established client base among government institutions. The combination of a growing distribution business and a rapidly growing savings market indicates that now is the optimum moment to increase our physical presence, deepen relationships and explore new business opportunities. We hope that this will enable us to provide our clients with the latest investment solutions and ensure that we can participate in the economic growth of the GCC in the years to come.”
William Wells, Head of Retail Sales, Middle East and Greece, commented:
“As a pillar of the financial services communities of every major capital market in the world, it is entirely appropriate that Schroders should establish its first permanent presence here in the Gulf.
The DIFC is a phenomenal concept and one Schroders is proud to be part of as we seek to build on our vast regional experience in developing our Middle Eastern business.”
Stephane Battistella
• In April 2007 Stephane was appointed Head of the Middle East Business Development, and relocated to Dubai. He's responsible for sales and client servicing for institutional and professional investors including Family Offices and Private Banks
• Stephane Battistella started his career 12 years ago with Baring Asset Management achieving the position of Head of French institutional business development. He joined Schroders in 2000 in order to initiate coverage of the French market, opening an office in Paris. Schroders raised over $4bn, becoming one of the leading foreign investment managers in France. Until 2007 Stephane was Head of French Retail Business.
• Stephane graduated from the French "Grandes Ecoles" Lyon Business school (ESC Lyon), and post graduated in Economics from the Dauphine Paris University
William Wells
• William is Head of Retail Sales, Middle East and Greece, having had responsibility for business development in the Middle East since 2004
• He is responsible for fund distribution, both retail and Private Banking, targeting third party sales, financial institutions, as well as proprietary investments in the region. Primarily covering the GCC and Greece, William has additional responsibility for the developing markets of Turkey, the Mediterranean and the rest of the Middle East
• In 2007 he was instrumental in setting up Schroders first local presence in the Middle East, with the opening of an office at DIFC in Dubai, William relocated to Dubai in April 2007. With 13 years experience, William has spent his entire career at Schroders having joined them in 1994. He initially serviced UK based clients, before focussing on Europe and Asia
• William graduated from the University of London with a degree in Mathematics, Statistics and Business Economics
Andrew Robbens
• Andrew, whose investment career started in 1997, first joined Schroders Institutional Marketing Department in 1999 after having had positions at Fidelity, Mercury Asset Management and Clerical Medical. He left Schroders to work for Deansgate Associates with responsibility for Middle East business development.
• In August 2005 Andrew returned to Schroders, heading the Global Product Support team, before joining the Middle East Business Development Team in April 2007.
• Andrew graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Chemistry
Schroders plc
Schroders is a global asset management company with $259.5 billion (£132.3 billion / E194.9 billion) under management as at 31 March 2007. Our clients are major financial institutions including pension funds, banks and insurance companies, local and public authorities, governments, charities, high net worth individuals and retail investors.
We apply our specialist asset management skills in serving the needs of our clients worldwide. With one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset management company and over 250 portfolio managers and analysts covering all the major investment markets, we offer our clients a comprehensive range of products and services.
Further information about Schroders can be found at www.schroders.com
Issued by Schroder Investment Management Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
