FRANCE - AXA Investment Managers has appointed Vincent Levita to the new position of director of strategy and innovation.

Levita joined from Corporate Value Associates in November and reports to chief executive Nicolas Moreau. Based in Paris, he concentrates on new business development and geographical expansion and will also focus on reinforcing the “innovation process”.

A spokeswoman explained that Levita looks after innovation of products, possible reorganisations of the company structure and leveraging any new ideas to make the business more efficient.

“It illustrates that we continuously question the way we lead our business, to reach excellence,” she said.

AXA said in a statement: “With experience in various industrial and financial sectors of France, Belgium, the UK and US, Vincent has provided recommendations for management initiatives for corporate and growth strategies, and worked on client, innovation, distribution and purchasing strategies for companies within these sectors.”

It also said that Levita has also developed frameworks for ‘change management’ and ‘sustainable development’ policies.

The new director of strategy and innovation is also due to join AXA IM’s executive committee.

As a partner at Corporate Value Associates, he was a member of its Strategic Advisory Board. His post will not be directly replaced, a spokesman for the company told IPE.

Levita’s appointment follows the appointment of Investec Asset Management’s Kieron Nutbrown as head of tactical asset allocation.