FRANCE – AXA Investment Managers Paris chief executive, Jean-Louis Laurens, has been appointed head of Robeco France from 1 February 2006.

Laurens, 51, will succeed Francois Guillaume, 41, who “will continue his professional career outside Robeco” and “pursue other interests”.

Guillaume joined Robeco in 2001 as president of the management board of Banque Robeco. In 2004, he also became president of Robeco Gestions.

According to a spokesperson, Guillaume resigned as president as of this week, and Michel Maillard, who is both Deputy General Manager of Banque Robeco and General Manager of Robeco Gestions has taken over his position on a temporary basis.

According to Robeco, Laurens’ appointment is still subject to regulatory approval by the CECEI. However, Robeco does not expect any problems in this regard, said the spokesperson.

His new responsibilities will include institutional asset management, Robeco funds managed in Paris, third-party distribution and banking activities.

Laurens joined AXA IM in 1999. He was chief executive of AXA IM Paris for six years, and global head of sales and marketing.

Before starting at AXA IM, Laurens was chief executive of Paris operations at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, and he also held positions at Morgan Stanley and HSBC.

He was also a member of the executive committee and board of the French asset managers association, AFG, and member of advisory committee AMF.

Laurens has been replaced in his previous role by AXA global head of institutional business Nathalie Boullefort-Fulconis, who has been promoted to global head of sales, marketing and client services. She reports to global CEO of the AXA IM group, Nicolas Moreau.