Andrew Putwain: Can you introduce yourself, your role at MSIG Europe, and the overall investment ethos of your organisation?
Lara Bernard-Villeneuve: I am the Chief Investment Officer of MSIG Europe SE. I lead the investment function for our European operations, reporting to our Chief Financial Officer.
My responsibilities include overseeing investment strategy, asset allocation, asset manager oversight, portfolio governance, and ensuring that the investment portfolio complies with our risk appetite (driven by our liabilities), the regulatory framework, and the financial objectives of the group.
Our investment approach is in the role that investments play within an insurance balance sheet. Our objective is to provide stability.
In practice, this translates into three principles. First, capital preservation and resilience. As an insurance investor, we focus on risk-adjusted returns and stability rather than purely maximising annual returns.
Secondly, alignment with liabilities and the financial resources of our business. Investment decisions must support solvency, liquidity management, and accounting considerations, which means asset allocation is always considered in the context of the broader balance sheet.
Thirdly, strong governance and accountability. Whether activities are performed internally or through external partners, we place a strong emphasis on transparency, clear mandates, and disciplined oversight.
For us, the question is therefore not about favouring one operating model over another. Internal and external management are both tools that can support the investment strategy when used in a deliberate and well-governed way. The key is ensuring that the model chosen remains aligned with the organisation’s scale, expertise, and strategic objectives.
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