AXA Investment Managers’ thematic equities team has brought in James Dowey, who was co-head of Liontrust’s global innovation team, and Matthew Ward, who was Barings’ head of global technology equities and co-head of global and international equities.
They have both joined as technology portfolio managers and will work alongside Pauline Llandric. Based in London, they will focus on AXA IM’s technology range, which includes investments in automation and the metaverse.
Dowey has 19 years of industry experience and co-managed Liontrust’s Global Technology, Global Innovation and Global Dividend funds.
Ward launched and managed the Barings Global Technology fund and also managed several other global and international equity strategies. He has 23 years of industry experience.
Tom Riley, head of global thematic strategies for AXA IM Core, said: “Thematics has been an important growth driver for AXA IM Core over the past decade and our technology capabilities have been at the forefront of this.”
AXA IM launched its thematic range in 2015, which now encompasses eight main strategies with $9bn in assets under management.