SGSS' Alain Closier named 'European Asset Servicing Personality of the Year'

Alain Closier, Global Head of Societe Generale Securities Services (SGSS), has been named 'European Asset Servicing Personality of the Year' for 2010 by Funds Europe*.

SGSS is now the second largest global custodian in Europe and the sixth worldwide. Under Alain Closier's leadership, SGSS has developed widely in the principal emerging markets, with a network now covering Russia, India, North Africa and Eastern Europe. SGSS' teams are recognised both for their strong emerging markets expertise as well as for their pan-European presence.

Since 2004, Alain Closier and his teams have driven a number of major projects in Europe, in particular the acquisition of Unicredit's securities services activity in 2006, a major milestone in the European securities industry. More recently, SGSS announced the signing of two commercial alliances which will have a significant impact on the European securities services landscape: the first with U.S. Bancorp, the 5th largest commercial bank in the US, and the second with National Bank of Abu Dhabi, the 2nd largest bank in the United Arab Emirates.

Over the last few years, Alain Closier has worked hard towards the consolidation and harmonisation of the European securities services industry and to encourage the emergence of players which can compete successfully with their US counterparts.

This latest award comes in addition to those already attributed by Global Custodian** magazine in 2009 and is yet further recognition of the expertise of SGSS and its teams.


* Funds Europe is the monthly business strategy magazine for Europe's asset management professionals. The awards are judged by a panel of judges composed of leading professionals with a wealth of funds industry experience. Panels are drawn from peer groups within the industry, specialist third party experts and from Funds Europe's editorial board.

** Alain Closier was honoured in the Global Custodian Securities Services Hall of Fame 2009, along with Bruno Prigent, Deputy Head of Societe Generale Securities Services, Ramy Bourgi, Head of Emerging Markets, Massimo Cotella, CEO SGSS S.p.A. and Matthieu Maurier, Deputy Head of Rosbank Custody Department.