CROWN Agents Investment Management (CAIM) has announced the appointment of former JP Morgan Asset Management and World Bank RAMP executive, Roberts Grava, as CEO, to take CAIM forward into a new era of growth.
CAIM is a UK regulated, institutional, fixed income and multi asset manager based in London. CAIM is a specialist fixed income reserves manager for Central Banks and multi asset manager for institutional clients based predominately in developing markets. In addition to investment management services it also provides training and capacity building for Central Banks and pension funds.
Roberts Grava brings over 25 years of global institutional asset management experience to CAIM, including a wealth of expertise working with central banks, national pension funds and sovereign wealth funds in the management of their reserves and national wealth.
Roberts has held several senior roles in public and private sector institutions, including Head of Official Institutions, Institutional Solutions and Advisory at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Head of Quantitative Strategies, Risk and Analytics at the World Bank Treasury, Managing Director and Head of Official Institutions, Fixed Income at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Engagement Manager, Reserves Advisory and Management Programme (RAMP) at the World Bank, CAIM said in a statement.
‘He also brings valuable experience as a central banker himself, having spent 11 years as Chief Investment Officer, Head of Reserves Management and Market Operations and Member of the Executive Board at Latvijas Banka, the Central Bank of Latvia,’ the statement added.
Roberts’s extensive experience in providing customised asset allocation analytics and advisory services for institutional clients – with a focus on central banks, sovereign wealth funds and national pension funds with global multi-asset, equity and fixed income portfolios – will bolster CAIM’s client offering, strengthening the firm’s position as a unique fixed income and multi asset manager for clients in emerging economies. In particular, his experience working for the Central Bank of Latvia and the World Bank’s RAMP, gives him unparalleled and first-hand insight into the priorities and concerns of CAIM’s client base of central banks.
‘I look forward to further strengthening CAIM’s offering, and, in particular, continuing on the good work that the firm has been doing in supporting our central bank clients across Africa – one of CAIM’s core focus regions – throughout these challenging times. Central banks across Africa have faced unprecedented challenges in recent months, and we are proud to stand by them in both a reserves management and advisory capacity, to help them navigate the uncertain market dynamics. As a longstanding and trusted player in African markets, CAIM has a proven track record and firm commitment to providing solutions to our clients in these markets – I look forward to using my own experience to contribute to this legacy,’ Roberts said.
Albert Maasland, Group CE
O of Crown Agents Investment Management and Crown Agents Bank expressed his delight at Roberts’s appointment, sayings: ‘We are delighted to welcome Roberts to take on leadership of the executive team at CAIM, and I’m confident that as Chief Executive Officer he’ll be an invaluable asset to our Asset Management business. As an accomplished investment specialist, with a proven track record of success in serving institutional clients globally, his breadth of experience in portfolio construction, optimisation and management, as well as problem-solving for public sector institutions more broadly, will align with our commitment to empowering our clients in developing countries.’
Roberts adds: ‘Thanks to it
s long history and unwavering commitment to its clients in developing economies, CAIM is an unparalleled institution in the asset management sphere. I very much look forward to working closely with the team to reach our full potential and continue to strengthen our innovative investment management services, portfolio solutions, capacity building and advisory that our central bank network is accustomed to.’
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