Citywire Benelux Retreat 2025
It is our pleasure to invite you to our inaugural Citywire Benelux Retreat 2025, which is set to be one of the biggest ever gatherings of selectors from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Building on the experience gathered from previous Citywire conferences across Europe, we have designed a new 24-hour "noon to noon" format to provide selectors with the best possible environment to meet and evaluate new investment ideas, get fresh insights into what top fund managers are doing and give them some valuable context for allocation decisions.
A new sharp and fresh format that makes the very best use of everyone’s time, designed to give both fund managers and selectors maximum value for the time they spend with us.
On the agenda are leading portfolio managers who cover a range of asset classes for our guests to meet and question but we will also provide a great opportunity for selectors to discuss the factors affecting them the most.
Citywire Benelux Retreat 2025 will also host bespoke sessions featuring prominent fund selection professionals offering first-hand tips on best practices in fund selection, bringing our audience precious food for thought to implement in this fast-paced environment.
We look forward to 24 hours of intense idea sharing and interaction within the Benelux fund selection community. We very much hope that you can join us in Bruges!
The registrations for this event are now closed, if you are interested please get in touch with EuroResearchTeam@citywire.co.uk and we will get back to you if a place becomes available.
Sponsors
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Workshops
Workshops
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Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Hamish Maxwell
Investment Specialist Manager
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Hamish joined Baillie Gifford in 2017 and is a member of the Scottish Mortgage Team. Hamish works closely with the managers, meeting with portfolio companies and conducting in-depth portfolio discussions with shareholders. Prior to joining Scottish Mortgage, he worked on Baillie Gifford's international equities strategies alongside Lawrence Burns. Before Baillie Gifford, Hamish served in the Royal Navy as a Commissioned Officer. He is a CFA Charterholder and achieved an MBA from City, University of London.
Representatives
Wim de Ruijter
Client Relationship Director

Wim joined Baillie Gifford in 2021 and is a client relationship director in our Clients Department, with responsibility for clients in the Benelux. Wim has over 25 years’ investment experience in a broad range of roles, ranging from analyst, portfolio management to relationship management with institutional and intermediary clients. Wim graduated with a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Groningen and is a CFA-charter holder.

Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Craig Abouchar, CFA
Managing Director

Craig Abouchar is a member of Barings’ European High Yield Investment Group and the European High Yield Investment Committee. He is a lead portfolio manager for the firm’s European High Yield Bond business and he is responsible for the portfolio management of numerous strategies. Craig has worked in the industry since 1994 and his experience has encompassed a focus on below-investment-grade assets across all investment types and geographic markets. Prior to joining the firm in 2016, he was Co-CEO, Europe of Castle Hill Asset Management. Prior to Castle Hill, Craig was a portfolio manager at Ignis Investment Management. He was also previously the chairman of the board of directors for the European High Yield Association. Craig holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Emory University, an M.B.A in Finance and International Business from Columbia University and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Fund Group Workshop

When sustainability meets opportunity: introducing the new Capital Group Future Generations Global Opportunities Fund (LUX)
This presentation will provide insights on sustainable investments at Capital Group while introducing the new Future Generation Funds range proposed by Capital Group.
In more details, the presentation propose a deep dive into what is Capital Group Future Generations Global Opportunities Fund (LUX) and what makes it so distinctive – in short : the fact that it is a global equity fund, positively aligned to the UN SDGs that seeks to deliver long-term growth of capital and superior investment returns, powered by proprietary, global research.
Workshop Objectives: Capital Group’s presentation of Capital Group Future Generations Global Opportunities Fund (LUX) aims at demonstrating Capital Group investment capabilities in the ESG/sustainable segment, together with investment opportunities uncovered in this segment for long-term investors.
Company Profile: Capital Group is one of the oldest and largest asset management companies in the world, managing multi-asset, equity, and fixed income investment strategies for different types of investors. Since 1931, Capital Group has been singularly focused on delivering superior, consistent results for long-term investors using high-conviction portfolios, rigorous research, and individual accountability. Capital Group has an integrated global research network of more than 450 investment professionals and its portfolio managers have an average of 28 years of experience. Capital Group manages over US$2.8 trillion (as at Dec 2024) in long-term assets for investors around the world.
Speakers
Belinda Gan
ESG Investment Director

Belinda Gan is an ESG investment director at Capital Group. She has 20 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for three years. Prior to joining Capital, Belinda worked as an investment director - global sustainability at Schroders. Before that, she was an account executive at Threadneedle Investments. Belinda began her career at Goldman Sachs Australia. She holds a bachelor's degree in commerce and a bachelor's degree in business systems from Monash University, Australia. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. Belinda is based in London.
Representatives
Kim Pex
Managing Director Financial Intermediaries & InstitutionsBelgium, Luxembourg & France

Kim Pex is a managing director at Capital Group. He has 18 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for five years. Prior to joining Capital, Kim worked as an international markets manager at Cardif Lux Vie. Before that, he was a relationship manager at IWI. He holds a bachelor's degree in office management in finance and insurance from Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen De Ham. Kim is based in Luxembourg.
Zoé Lavaud
Business Development Associate Financial Intermediaries & Institutions France, Luxembourg & Belgium

Zoé Lavaud is a business development associate at Capital Group. She has four years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for one year. Prior to joining Capital, Zoé worked as a client relationship manager at Crédit Mutuel Investment Managers. Before that, she worked as sales support at Natixis Investment Managers. She holds a master`s degree in management with specialization in finance from SKEMA Business School and a bachelor's degree in business from Wrexham University. Zoé is based in Luxembourg.

Empureon Volatility One Fund – the Risk-Reduced Volatility Premium
Presentation summary – 120 words
In order to provide empirical evidence for the investment case the presentation starts with analysing the volatility premium, its existence, and magnitude. The spread between implied and realized volatility in the U.S. equity market is quantified over a long historical period to confirm its role as a genuine capital market premium.
The systematic investment process of the Volatility One Fund is detailed, highlighting its strategy for capturing the volatility premium in a risk-reduced way. The investment process involves selling out-of-the-money (OTM) S&P 500 puts as well as purchasing additional hedges.
Finally, the presentation introduces the investable share classes of the fund and the experienced team responsible for its management.
Workshop Objectives: As a leading expert in volatility strategies, Empureon provides investors with insights into the volatility premium, its applications, effective strategies, and benefits of incorporating such strategies into diversified portfolios.
Company Profile: Empureon Capital Management specializes in the development and implementation of clear and transparent return profiles. We are convinced that we can provide investors elementary investment solutions for their diversified portfolio.
Our focus is on the identification and risk-controlled collection of attractive market premiums.
The Empureon team has more than 12 years of experience managing systematic strategies and was responsible for multiple award-winning funds with a total volume of approximately EUR 4 billion.
Speakers
Daniel Lucke
Managing Partner

Daniel Lucke is Managing Partner at Empureon Capital Management. Previously, he led FERI Trust’s Volatility Strategies team (2011–2023), growing it into a market leader with €4 billion AuM. He received numerous awards for fund performance and graduated with distinction from the Frankfurt School of Finance in 2011. Formerly a portfolio manager at BHF-BANK, he managed funds and contributed to their multi-asset approach. He is a frequent speaker and media expert.
Ahmet Peker
Managing Partner

Ahmet Peker is Managing Partner at Empureon Capital Management. Previously, he led FERI Trust's Institutional Clients Germany division (2018–2023). A CAIA member since 2009, he worked at Deka Investment as Senior Portfolio Manager and started his career at Ernst & Young. He co-headed the Germany Chapter of CAIA, contributes to industry publications, and is a sought-after speaker. He holds a business degree (2005) and excels in institutional asset management
Representatives
Erik Wille
Director


Fund Group Workshop

Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Rob James
Emerging Markets Portfolio Manager

Rob is Portfolio Manager of our Global Emerging Markets Strategy and Lead Portfolio Manager of our Emerging Markets Unconstrained Strategy. Before joining TT in 2011, Rob worked at Pictet Asset Management, where he was most recently Head of Latin America, having been Senior Portfolio Manager for Emerging Markets. Robert has a BA from the University of Oxford, as well as an MA (Distinction) and a PHD from the University of East Anglia. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Blake Heimann
Senior Associate, Quantitative Research, WisdomTree

Blake Heimann joined WisdomTree in 2020 and supports the creation, maintenance, and reconstitution of WisdomTree’s indices. Blake began his career in finance in 2017 as an Analyst at TD Ameritrade and, later, a Quantitative Analyst with a focus on the development of machine learning applications in finance.
Blake has bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Economics from Iowa State University, as well as a master’s in Computer Science from Georgia Tech, with a specialisation in Machine Learning. He is currently pursuing a master’s in Finance from the London School of Economics.
Agenda
12:00 - 13:30
Registration and Lunch
13:30 - 13:40
Welcome
13:40 - 14:35
Conference session 1 - Panel
14:35 - 15:05
Fund Group Workshop
15:15 - 15:45
Fund Group Workshop
15:55 - 16:25
Fund Group Workshop
16:35 - 17:05
Fund Group Workshop
19:30 - 22:00
Drinks & Dinner offsite
08:00 - 09:30
Breakfast at leisure
09:30 - 10:30
Conference Session 2 - Panel
10:30 - 11:00
Fund Group Workshop
11:10 - 11:40
Fund Group Workshop
11:50 - 12:20
Fund Group Workshop
12:30 - 13:00
Fund Group Workshop
13:00
Buffet Lunch