Sedgwick Noble Lowndes is reeling in some big names to expand its continental European investment consulting operation. The Croydon, England-based firm is focusing on France, Germany and Italy as the introduction of the euro nears.
"We'd have to be foolish not to," said Paul Kelly, managing director of consulting for continental Europe, Paris. "We can't be a world-class consultancy if we don't have capability in the eurobloc."
The firm has hired Nevill Brooke, a 30-year IBM veteran and most recently director of IBM Retirement Funds Europe, the computer company's in-house investment consultant. He will be based in the Croydon offices.
In France, the firm has recruited as a consultant Jean-Pierre Thomas, formerly a minister in the previous French government and author of recent pension legislation that is being reviewed by the Socialist government.
Arnauld Clement-Grandcourt, president of BNP Gestions until an internal shakeup last year, will be a senior investment consultant.
Horst Ludwig, formerly at the firm of Aon Jauch & Hubener, the Frankfurt-based brokerage arm of Aon Group, was hired to set up an investment consulting practice in Munich.
