Natixis names key accounts lead

Zac Wallis has been promoted to head of key accounts at Natixis Investment Managers after working with the sales team for eleven months.

He joined Natixis as a distribution director from Neuberger Berman, where he was a senior vice president.

Natixis country head Australia and New Zealand Louise Watson, country head" said Wallis ' new role recognises the importance of the wholesale channel, led by Jason Guthrie, to the asset manager's growth plans in Australia.

"Natixis Investment Managers has a long history in institutional investment in Australia, but has more recently developed a strong presence in wholesale and retail since acquiring local investment manager IML," she said.

"Zac is playing a pivotal role in growing our presence in wholesale. His experience and strong network have had a positive impact since he started with us, and we are delighted to recognise his importance to our business with a promotion and additional responsibilities developing investment solutions to meet the needs of dealer groups, private banks, brokers and our platform clients."

Wallis joined Natixis as a distribution director from Neuberger Berman, where he was a senior vice president.

He has almost 20 years of investment management experience in sales, strategy and research roles.

Before his two-year stint at Neuberger, Wallis was a strategic account manager at Perpetual Investment Management.

Before that, he was a national key account manager at Bennelong Funds Management.

Earlier in his career, Wallis worked as a research manager with Zurich and a research analyst for Morningstar Research.