The chairman of money manager Amundi Smith Breeden LLC has been elevated to the rank of officer within France's national honor system.
Patrick Pagni, who is also senior regional manager for North America of parent company Amundi, received the recognition from the French National Order of the Legion of Honor last month. Amundi Smith Breeden has $10 billion in assets under management.
The order of the French Legion of Honor was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. The honor is awarded for outstanding personal merit, and carries three grades: knight, officer and commander; and two further awards: grand officer and grand cross.
His promotion to officer is mainly due to his involvement with cultural and educational non-profit activities, Mr. Pagni said in an email. He is chairman of the French American Cultural Exchange Foundation, which promotes the exchange of cultural and artistic activities between the two countries; and is an ambassador of the Dauphine Foundation of the Paris Dauphine University. He is a platinum benefactor of the foundation.
“As you may guess, I am extremely proud of joining the ranks of the officiers of the French Legion of Honor, as this is awarded to less than 500 people every year,” Mr. Pagni said.
Mr. Pagni will receive his medal in April during a private ceremony and is looking “forward to proudly showing the associated small button-shaped red rosette on my boutonniere.”
