InvestOps Europe 2025
20 - 22 October, 2025
CNIT Forest, Paris
Conference Day Two - Thursday 19th September 2019
8:00 am - 8:55 am
Conference Registration and Networking Breakfast
8:55 am - 9:00 am
Chairperson’s Opening Remarks:
Paul Sinthunont -
Analyst, Institutional Securities and Investments,
Aite Group
THRIVING IN A NEW MARKET ORDER
9:00 am - 9:20 am
Opening Keynote Interview: Overcoming operational efficiency challenges - What are the top 3 critical success factors for building a streamlined, cost-efficient investment operations division in 2020?
James Kearney -
Head of Global Investment Operations,
Vanguard
Lou Rosato -
Global Investment Operations Strategy and Industry Engagement,
BlackRock
Paul Miller -
Managing Partner,
Sionic
- Human capital management- How can you best deploy resources and talent to build a winning investment operations devision in an era of digitization and innovation?
- Metrics- How can you best measure the performance to maximize efficiencies across your division?
- Assessing the impact of technology- How can you best combine humans and machines to unlock new frontiers of performace across your division?
- Embracing innovation- what are the top 3 technology trends to look out for that will change the way you work?
Lou Rosato
Global Investment Operations Strategy and Industry EngagementBlackRock
9:20 am - 9:40 am
All Star Panel: Spending smart instead of spending big - How can you overcome legacy architecture and integrate agile, future-proof technology to maximise front-to-back efficiency?
Martin Kwiatkowski -
Head of Global Investment Operations,
Aberdeen Standard Investments
Arnaud Zeitoun -
Global Head of Transformation,
BNP Paribas Asset Management
Joe Parsons -
Deputy Editor,
Global Custodian
- How can operations better support the front office in improving front-to-back workflow in a cost efficient manner?
- How can you implement new cutting-edge technology to streamline your processes globally?
- Re-inventing your workflow- How have buy side leaders replaced legacy technology to transform the middle and back office?
- How can a technology strategy that embraces consolidation of asset classes on a single platform support multi-asset investing in a simple and cost-efficient way?
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
9:40 am - 10:10 am
Special Guest Speaker: Future-proof yourself - How are RPA, AI and ML going to radically change and shape the future of your profession?
Matthew Griffin -
Fanatical Futurist,
311 Institute
Described as “The Adviser behind the Advisers” and a “Young Kurzweil,” Matthew is the founder and CEO of the 311 Institute, a global futures think tank working between the dates of 2020 to 2070, and is an award winning futurist and author of “Codex of the Future.” Regularly featured in the global media, including AP, BBC, CNBC, Discovery, RT, and Viacom, Matthew’s ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of revolutionary emerging technologies on global culture, industry and society, is unparalleled. Recognised for the past six years as one of the world’s foremost futurists, innovation and strategy experts Matthew helps governments, investors, multi-nationals and regulators around the world envision, build and lead an inclusive, sustainable future.
10:10 am - 10:50 am
Regulatory Keynote Panel: Which new regulatory changes are expected to shape Buy Side Investment Operations in the year ahead and how can you best prepare for them now
Darryl Cornelius -
Head of European Regulatory Projects,
State Street Global Advisors
Jean-Charles Delcroix -
Chief Compliance Officer,
Amundi Asset Management
Susan Hudson -
Head of Regulatory Management,
UBS Asset Management
Stéphane Janin -
Head of Global Regulatory Development,
AXA Investment Managers
Patrick Pearson -
Head of Financial Market Infrastructure and Derivatives,
European Commission
Paul Sinthunont -
Analyst, Institutional Securities and Investments,
Aite Group
- Navigating through Global and EU reporting obligations - What is the biggest paradigm shift?
- 10 Years anniversary of G20 commitment to improve the derivatives market – How are the authorities and industry players embracing the changes in the industry?
- What is the latest implementation status of phase three of initial margin (IM) requirements for non-centrally cleared derivatives and what are the best practice use cases for implementing them?
- How has AIFMD impacted the level of integration of the EU AIF market and the structure of the EU depositories market?
- Benchmark regulation - How can you best manage the volume of contractual work and new risks involved?
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
10:50 am - 11:30 am
Morning Networking Break
NEW GAME-CHANGERS
Chaired by Virginie O'Shea, Research Director,
Institutional Securities and Investments, Aite Group
11:30 am - 11:50 am
Fireside Chat: The future is now - How can you clear and settle trades on current Blockchain infrastructure and what does the future hold for this technology?
Ian Lloyd -
Senior Vice President, Investment Operations,
Alliance Bernstein
John Dwyer -
Blockchain Research Analyst,
Celent
- How blockchain is used in asset management and investment operations in particular - overview of the recent new case study applications of blockchain in fund trading and AML KYC
- Reducing reliance on the clearing system - What does blockchain offer and how have trades already been settled outside the traditional clearing and settlement structure in a legal manner?
- Assessing future potential – how smart contracts can be practically used to create seamless automatic distributor onboarding process?
- As well as the successful use cases, what are the deficiencies of DLT technology when commercially applied and how can they be overcome?
Ian Lloyd
Senior Vice President, Investment OperationsAlliance Bernstein
11:50 am - 12:10 pm
360 Perspective: New horizons in alternatives - How can you automate manual processes and digitize your operations for complex assets and instruments to enhance the client experience?
Priya Nair -
Managing Director and Global Head of Private Capital Services Product Management,
RBC Investor & Treasury Services
- How are investment operations adapting to the huge uptake in alternatives - What steps are being taken to reduce reliance on manual processes and spreadsheets?
- What strategie are the buy side putting in place in the next 24 months to mitigate the cost and challenges of supporting alternatives and private debt?
- Investing in best-of-breed tools for specialised asset classes - What solutions are available?
- Thriving in a new world of alternatives- How can you best manage your operational risk across a broader variety of non-traditional assets?
- How to respond to new trading strategies timely enabling front to back integration and speedy on-boarding of new alternative assets?
- What can asset managers do to adapt to thediversification trend into private capital – is setting up a dedicated PERE arms the best solution?
Priya Nair
Managing Director and Global Head of Private Capital Services Product ManagementRBC Investor & Treasury Services
12:10 pm - 12:40 pm
InvestOps Dragons’ Den: Examining the latest and greatest innovations in Investment Operations technology: Which offer true added value and should be considered for your future investment plans?
Paul Sinthunont -
Analyst, Institutional Securities and Investments,
Aite Group
Matthew Cheung -
Chief Executive Officer,
iPushPull
Gabino Roche -
CEO and Founder,
Saphyre
Join this exciting ‘Dragons’ Den’ style session, where you will hear from four new and innovative start-up FINTECH firms as they present their offerings in a bid to win first place. Listen up as the ’dragons’ review the technologies’ benefits to your business, predict their future success and deliver their verdicts. The ultimate decision is in your hands though, as the audience get to vote for their favourite. Will you find the next big thing?
12:40 pm - 1:20 pm
All Star Panel: Building the next-generation operations team - How can you foster a culture of innovation to enable your team to thrive in the highly data and tech driven landscape?
James Carpenter -
SVP, European Funds Administration,
PIMCO
Sean Kennedy -
Head of Investment Operations - EMEA,
Vanguard
Ersilia Molnar -
Chief Operating Officer,
Muzinich & Co
Krzysztof Wierzchowski -
Global Trade Services Director,
Franklin Templeton Investments
Paul Miller -
Managing Partner,
Sionic
- Building resilience into corporate strategy - How should you set up your teams to thrive in fast paced and evolving environment?
- How is technology changing the way teams are working together and their functions and what is the best team structure to succeed in a highly automated and tech driven industry?
- Creating a culture of innovation within the organization - What strategies can you put in place to ensure that everybody is driving change?
- Addressing the digital skill gap and the need to innovate - What skills should you now be looking for when hiring for the future?
- How do you justify the ROI of long-term solutions intended to draw and develop the best talent?
1:20 pm - 2:20 pm
Networking Lunch
1:20 pm - 2:20 pm
Women in Investment Operations Lunch: Improving the position of women within investment operations - Covering everything from communications, self-branding to career progression
Cynthia O'Gorman Schem -
Chief Operating Officer,
Pictet Asset Management
Karen Zachary -
Chief Operating Officer,
CRUX Asset Management
Ø A boardroom discussion on professional skill development, building a personal brand, and getting ahead on the street
Ø Enhance your career by learning from, and being inspired by, some of the most successful and influential women leaders
Hosted By:
Cynthia O'Gorman Schem, Chief Operating Officer, Pictet Asset Management
Karen Zachary, Chief Operating Officer, CRUX Asset Management
Chaired by Virginie O'Shea, Research Director, Institutional Securities and Investments, Aite Group
Navigating The Regulatory Minefield
2:20 pm - 2:40 pm Case Study: Regulatory Reporting Oversight Governance - Why do we need it and how it is structured? Mary-Patricia Hall - Head of Regulatory Reporting & Oversight, Insight Investment- What are the different ways organisations deal with all the regulatory implementations and what choices are available to you going forward?
- How should you set up and position your newly created regulatory oversight team within your organisation to add the most value?
- Efficiently addressing your regulatory reporting requirements- How to divide and share responsibilities with other teams and put automatic mechanisms into places where they didn’t exist
- Transparency and clarity- How can you ensure all your teams align and assume responsibility for policy implementation and mandatory projects that take place?
Navigating The Regulatory Minefield
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm Fireside Chat: Senior Managers Regime and what is going to Ccome as a result- How to ensure compliance Lydia Buttinger - Global Head, Regulatory Engagement and Risk Governance, Aberdeen Standard Investments Daniel Sandman - Head of Customer Protection, Allianz SE Virginie O'Shea - Research Director, Institutional Securities and Investments, Aite Group- SM&CR - How the are financial firms setting up the processes, lines of reporting and senior managers responsibilities to ensure compliance?
- Are the smaller companies ready for the general change of culture SM&CR will bring?
- Introducing reporting lines in fund structures - How SM&CR ensures managers are acting in the best interest of investorsto drive better individual accountability through transparency, clarity and support?
- The global dimensions- How will SM&CR stretch beyond the UK and what effects could it have on the wider European landscape?
Lydia Buttinger
Global Head, Regulatory Engagement and Risk GovernanceAberdeen Standard Investments
Navigating The Regulatory Minefield
3:00 pm - 3:20 pm Fireside Chat: Preparing for SFTR phase 3 - Buy-side perspective Chris Slater - Regulatory Management, UBS Asset Management Virginie O'Shea - Research Director, Institutional Securities and Investments, Aite Group- Reviewing securities lending legal and regulatory framework – how to set up new SFTR infrastructure to guarantee accurate reporting?
- How to ensure you are obtaining all the data required to enhance settlement?
- What are the practical solutions that can help with the volume of the SFTR work aligning workflow and allowing STP?
- To what extend the firms are being able to delage the function of reporting?
Buy Side only Workshops - Open to a maximum of 20 delegates
2:20 pm - 3:20 pm Boardroom: The future of work- The keys to drive transformation within Investment Operations Anu George - Chief Quality and Transformation Officer, Morningstar- Following on from Anu’s keynote presentation, join our closed door Q&A boardroom to drill down on what steps you can take to drive your transformation projects within your firm. Anu is responsible for providing strategic direction to Morningstar’s transformation and operational excellence initiatives. She works at the intersection of emerging technologies, strategy, leadership and operational excellence. She is also charged with helping Morningstar to adopt concepts related to the “future of work”. She has successfully led the LEAN and Agile transformation at Morningstar and now Anu is focused on mastering design thinking and driving a digital transformation in the organisation. Anu has more than 20 years of experience in reputable organizations such as Unilever, GE, and Morningstar. She has global experience through her extensive work in Asia, North America, and Europe.
