Lombard Odier Investment Managers has made two key appointments to its European sales teams as it develops the reach of its business closer to clients.

Donato Savatteri has been named country head for LOIM in Italy while Frédéric Cruzel has been appointed head of sales in France for LOIM, based in Paris. Savatteri will be based in a new office in Milan, subject to the appropriate regulatory approvals.

“We’re expanding our European network to help clients access our unique investment approach,” said Hubert Keller, a Lombard Odier Managing Partner and co-head of the bank’s investment management unit. “We take the liquidity and transparency of traditional investment management and apply the risk techniques and more dynamic capital allocation of alternative investing.”

Savatteri will work with Alessandro Fonzi who has been instrumental in developing LOIM’s Italian business from its London office.

Most recently Savatteri was commercial director at Franklin Templeton Investments in Italy. He worked at UBS Asset Management until 2001 and before that at Crédit Agricole Indosuez and JP Morgan in Milan.

Cruzel was most recently deputy sales director for France at Amundi Asset Management and spent ten years at Société Générale Asset Management where he was director of institutional sales for Europe and Canada. He will be supported by Patrick Lajoinie, who is playing a vital role in building LOIM’s business in France.

Both Savatteri and Cruzel will report to Marius Wuergler, head of European Sales. Géraud Dambrine remains a member of the Executive Committee of Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie. Gestion France S.A.

“Donato and Frédéric bring with them proven track records of building asset management businesses in the Italian and French markets,” said Mr Wuergler. “I’m excited to add them to our team and further demonstrate the importance of these critical markets to us.”