M&G Investments Europe’s CEO, Micaela Forelli, to become Vice-President
On the occasion of its annual general meeting held on Friday 20 June in Valletta (Malta), Samantha Ricciardi, CEO of Santander Asset Management, was elected as EFAMA’s President for a two-year term, running until June 2027. Samantha Ricciardi has been the CEO of Santander Asset Management since 2022. She has more than 25 years of international experience in various leadership roles within the asset management industry, including companies such as BlackRock, Schroders and Citi.
Micaela Forelli, CEO Europe at M&G Investments, was also elected as EFAMA’s Vice-President. She has been the CEO since 2023, having previously headed Global Financial Institutions and European distribution for M&G Investments since 2010. She has around 20 years of leadership experience at M&G Investments, as well as spending 3 years as Sales Director at Fidelity International.
Samantha Ricciardi takes over from Sandro Pierri, CEO of BNP Paribas Asset Management, while Micaela Forelli takes over from Massimo Greco, Vice-Chair Asset Management EMEA at JP Morgan Asset Management. Sandro and Massimo have formed the EFAMA Presidency since 2023.
President of EFAMA, Samantha Ricciardi, commented:
“I embrace the EFAMA presidency with enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility, committed to contributing meaningfully at this pivotal moment for Europe. We face a unique opportunity to act decisively, with a clear vision and urgency. Our industry needs to turn savings into productive investments and to succeed, we need action: a true Capital Markets and Savings and Investments Union, alongside a cultural shift that builds trust to invest confidently in capital markets. Achieving this vision will require unity and close collaboration among industry leaders, regulators, and institutions to build a stronger Europe focused on growth.”
Sandro Pierri commented:
“I extend my warm congratulations and best wishes to my successor, Samantha Ricciardi. I am confident that she will lead EFAMA with distinction, enabling further growth and success for the European asset management industry. I also take this opportunity to welcome EFAMA’s new Vice-President, Micaela Forelli. I found my time in the EFAMA Presidency to be fulfilling and rewarding, with the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders on significant policy topics. I wish both of them every success as they embark on this important mandate.”
Tanguy van de Werve, Director General at EFAMA, commented:
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sandro and Massimo for the significant impact they have made during their Presidency. Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in guiding the association through a time of economic and political transition, and they have been strong advocates for the asset management industry. As we move forward under new leadership, our first all-female Presidency, I am committed to building on this momentum and ensuring EFAMA continues to be the strong and effective voice of the European investment management industry, with the support of our 29 national associations and 50+ global asset managers.”
Members at the AGM also elected a new Board of Directors for a two-year term.
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Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact:
Hayley McEwen
Head of communications and membership development
Biography of Samantha Ricciardi
Samantha Ricciardi is CEO of Santander Asset Management since February 2022. She joined Santander Asset Management from BlackRock, where she had spent around 12 years in senior positions, most recently as Head of Strategic Coverage and Business development for EMEA. Prior to taking on that role in 2021, Samantha had spent seven years as the company's Country Head of Mexico, a country for which she had previously been Head of Sales.
Prior to joining BlackRock in 2010, she was the Mexico Country Head for Schroders, a company she joined in 2003 as a relationship manager GFIG in London. Samantha began her career working for Citi in London, where she was Head of EMEA Fund Selection.
She is a member of the Boards of FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente Holding and Rassini. Samantha holds a degree in International Relations from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and a Master's degree from the London School of Economics (LSE). Samantha is committed to diversity and inclusion and as such, is a founding member of Mujeres en Finanzas (MeF), an organisation that promotes the development of women in LatAm.
Biography of Micaela Forelli
Since joining M&G in 2001, she has held a series of senior leadership positions, culminating in her appointment as CEO, Europe of Asset Management Operations in 2023. In her role, she oversees a regional team of more than 200 professionals across Distribution, Investments, Operations and Corporate functions and has played a pivotal role in M&G Investments’ international growth and strategic development.
Micaela was named Distribution Director of M&G International Investments in 2018 and has been instrumental in expanding the firm’s global footprint. She is an authorised Conducting Officer and Senior Executive Director at M&G’s Luxembourg investment management entity, and a board member for a range of alternative and traditional investment funds. Additionally, she serves as Chair of M&G International Investments Switzerland AG.
She holds a degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Bocconi University in Milan and is an INSEAD-certified International Director.
