EUROPE - Laurent de Greef, head of marketing and business development for Nordic and Southern Europe at State Street Global Advisors, has joined Acadian Asset Management to run its new London office.

Laurent De Greef had been in the role for just under three years, having joined State Street in 2001. He took over when Henrik Rox Hansen joined Janus Capital.

Boston-based Acadian, which specialises in equities, said its London subsidiary, Acadian Asset Management, is preparing for registration with the Financial Services Authority. 

The goal of the new office is to "enhance and expand client service and business development in Europe". 

"We are proud to have Laurent on board at our London subsidiary and believe he is the ideal person to spearhead our client service and business development efforts from London," said co-founder and chief operating officer Churchill Franklin.

"He has broad and deep experience in this industry on the European stage which will benefit Acadian as we seek to expand our client service and business development in the region."

De Greef is a graduate of the Solvay Business School in Brussels, where he earned a degree in financial engineering.

Acadian set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in Singapore in 1999 and a joint venture in Australia with Colonial First State Investment in 2005. It has more than $45bn under management.