Asset manager Robeco has appointed Ana Claver to the role of head of Europe wholesale and Nick King to head up its new ETF platform.
Claver (pictured) will oversee the wholesale teams, the firm said, as well as develop and execute strategic plans for the wholesale division in Europe, aligning with Robeco’s overall objectives. Madrid-based Claver previously held the role of managing director, head of Robeco Iberia and US offshore and LatAm.
“Ana has a tremendous track record in successfully managing the Robeco sales and account management teams in a client-centric way,” said Malick Badjie, global head of sales & marketing a.i. at Robeco. “This resulted in growth of our assets under management and revenue in the Iberian market. She has been with Robeco since 2006, so elevating her to a broader European wholesale role is a logical step.”
He added: “Ana is known for her focus on client satisfaction, deepening relationships and her strong strategic and forward-looking capabilities. These skills will be valuable in navigating the team upward through the rapidly evolving investment landscape.”
Claver, who previously worked at Venture Consulting and Morgan Stanley, said: “I am very much looking forward to working together with all country sales teams in the region. I am committed to accelerating growth by uniting Robeco’s team of experts across wholesale. Together, we will continue to drive innovation and deliver the best service to our European clients and guide them to achieve their financial and sustainability goals.”
ETF push
Claver’s appointment comes a few weeks after Robeco hired Nick King, previously head of ETFs at Fidelity International, to head up its new ETF platform. Before his eight years at Fidelity, King spent eight and-a-half years at BlackRock, during which time he was promoted to senior portfolio manager within ETFs.
“I am delighted to join Robeco during this pivotal moment in its journey into the ETF market. I look forward to leading the charge and leveraging my experience to drive innovation and success in this rapidly evolving space,” King said. “Together with the talented team at Robeco, I am confident we can make a meaningful impact on the future of ETFs.”
Robeco’s move towards the ETF market was inspired by the sector’s growing popularity over recent years, as well as the vehicles’ “versatility in the investment landscape”, according to the firm.
Robeco has presented some resistance to the popularity of ETFs in the past. In a 2021 report, the asset management team called the superior performance of ETFs “largely anecdotal” with “little support in the data”. Robeco has now said it sees the funds as an opportunity to complement its ongoing work and as an opportunity to bundle strategies. Robeco announced the launch of an ETF platform as part of its broader 2021/25 strategy.
