UPDATE: UK – AXA Investment Managers has now confirmed that former UK chief executive Virginia Holmes left the company in early December, after previously declining to comment.

The UK chief executive position is now filled by AXA IM’s global chief executive Nicolas Moreau, an AXA spkesperson said.

AXA IM controls 16.6 billion euros in European pension fund assets.

The spokesperson said that, following a strategic review at the start of October, the corporate structure of the company was “more focused along functional lines on a global basis”.

“As such the role of the local CEO has become reduced in scope. As a result of this, Virginia Holmes felt that the role was no longer consistent with her career aspirations.”

“Nicholas Moreau has therefore assumed direct responsibility for the management of the AXA IM business in the UK.”

Moreau was promoted from chief operating officer to chief executive of AXA Investment Managers in April.

Holmes could not be reached for comment.