Ex-PIMCO Equities CIO Opens Consulting Firm

Virginie MaisonneuvePIMCO’s former equities chief Virginie Maisonneuve has launched a boutique consulting firm in London nearly five months after leaving the bond shop.

Maisonneuve Global Advisors said she will work with “a network of independent contributors” to provide commentary on key market trends.

The firm will also aim to support asset managers, search firms, consultants, and brokers on investing as well as diversity and sustainability matters, applied internet technologies, and public speaking.

“In a low-growth, low-rate world, the asset management industry (and related businesses) will need to embrace new competitive challenges and extract the best out of their current teams and products to help their clients,” the release said.

The new firm also emphasized the demand for “out-of-the-box” thinking to meet clients needs and “independent, high conviction views” to deliver strong performance.

Integrate technology in investment processes is another aim, Maisonneuve Global Advisors said, announcing the hiring of new Director Michael Fleshman, the founder of technology specialist Notting Hill Digital.

The consulting firm also recruited four former PIMCO global equities specialists, according to its website.

Maisonneuve resigned from the Newport Beach, California-based bond giant just 17 months after taking the position. PIMCO shut down two active stock strategies—Pathfinder and an emerging market product group—in May.

Prior to PIMCO, Maisonneuve led the global equities program at Schroders for nine years. She also served as co-CIO of equity boutique Clay Finlay and a portfolio manager at State Street, Batterymarch Financial Management, and active equity specialist Martin Currie.

Related: Maisonneuve Quits as PIMCO Rethinks Equities & Inside Bill Gross’ Lawsuit