Jean-Baptiste de Franssu will be the new head of the ‘Vatican bank’, officially known as the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR).
The 51-year-old French businessman succeeds German lawyer Ernst Von Freyberg, who, since February 2013, has run the institution.
The married father of four says he is ready to take on the challenge.
He vows to return to bring the institution back it ethical roots, saying «Catholic, ethical investment will drive how we will be managing assets on behalf of our clients» and aims to work towards serving «the poor and the propagation of faith.»
In March 2014, De Franssu was appointed to the newly created Council for the Economy for the administrative and financial structures and activities of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the institutions linked to the Holy See, and the Vatican City State.
De Frenssu graduated from the ESC Group Business School in Reims, France and holds a BA in European Business Administration from Middlesex University in the U.K. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Actuarial Studies from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris.
After having risen through the ranks in the business world, De Franssu will bring to the table his vast client and financial services expertise.
As chairman of INCIPIT, an M&A advisory and consulting firm, the financier believes offering clients good service and providing the best quality are top priority. Until the end of October 2011, he was Chief Executive Officer of Invesco Europe and a member of the Invesco Worldwide management committee. Since 1990, when he joined Invesco, he led the firm’s successful expansion first in France and then across Europe.
In addition to having basic business acumen, he is a skilled business communicator. Before this directing role, he was the financial editor at INVESTIR magazine. Over the years, he has contributed to many publications, industry working groups and seminars on issues relating to regulation and supervision of asset management activities in Europe and the U.S.
Moreover, in June 2007, he was elected Vice-President of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) and in June 2009, president of EFAMA.
In 2009, he was elected European fund industry personality of the year by Funds EUROPE magazine.
Beyond his non-business activities, he is a board member of the World Youth Alliance, a global coalition of young people committed to promoting human dignity and solidarity among developed and developing nations. (D.C.L.)
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On ZENIT’s webpag
De Franssu discusses IOR in interview:
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/de-franssu-discusses-the-numbers-jobs-and-sins-of-the-vatican-bank
