The Rising Stars: Gruntjes, Vasselin, Lao, Solomons

Today we feature Rising Star profiles on Paul Gruntjes, Michael Vasselin, Lucienne Lao and Jamie Solomons.

Paul Gruntjes, senior portfolio manager derivatives & hedging, Aegon Asset Management

As a doctor of philosophy from the University of Amsterdam, it is a no surprise Paul Gruntjes has managed to thrive in the demanding world of trading. He became a financial engineer in 2008 for Cardano Risk Management upon completion of his masters degree in quantitative finance and actuarial sciences in 2008.  Gruntjes moved to the trading desk in 2010 at high frequency trading firm Flow Traders in 2010, and later joined a Dutch pension fund as a fixed income and derivatives portfolio manager. He now currently trades derivatives and is a senior portfolio manager for Aegon Asset Management in Holland.

Michael Vasselin, head of fixed income credit trading, Aviva Investors

Michael Vasselin has spent his entire career on the dealing desk, beginning his career as a dealer and desk analyst for Gartmore in 1999. In 2007 he joined State Street as a vice president and senior dealer for almost four years, before joining Aviva investors as a fixed income dealer, specialising in credit. He is now currently head of fixed income credit trading for the UK insurer and asset manager, dealing in all aspects of high yield, credit derivatives and futures.

Lucienne Lao, trader, Axa Investment Managers

Lucienne Lao has been a trader with French asset manager AXA Investment Managers since 2013. She was previously a structured credit trader for UBS, and also spent time at Deutsche Bank as an equities sales trader intern. She trades in global equities and derivatives from London, as well as ETFs. Since joining AXA, she has taken on additional responsibility for the equities CFD flows in its Risk Premia fund launched earlier this year.

Jamie Solomons, head of dealing, Blackfriars Asset Management

Jamie Solomons is head of dealing for Blackfriars Asset Management, focusing on global emerging market equity trading for the London-based asset manager. With a degree in economics and politics from the University of Edinburgh, he has moved up Blackfriars’ ranks quickly after beginning his career in 2012 as an analyst for HSBC. 

«