Michael Ford Joins Amundi Smith Breeden as Senior Vice President, U.S. Head of Consultant Relations

DURHAM, NC--(Marketwired - Sep 25, 2014) - Amundi Smith Breeden today announced that Michael L. Ford, CFA, has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President and U.S. Head of Consultant Relations. Amundi Smith Breeden is the North American investment headquarters for Amundi, the leading European asset management firm with more than $1 trillion in assets under management.

As U.S. Head of Consultant Relations, a new position, Mr. Ford will serve as liaison to the U.S. consultant community. He is responsible for keeping the consultant community current on the firm's activities, products and performance with the goal of raising Amundi Smith Breeden's visibility among this key audience. Mr. Ford will report to Stephen A. Eason, CFA, Senior Executive Vice President. He will work from Amundi Smith Breeden headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.

"We are pleased to have Michael joining Amundi Smith Breeden as we expand our U.S. institutional offerings and client base. He brings significant experience in the areas of investment analysis, portfolio and client relationship management. Michael's 13 years of experience as a senior consultant make him the ideal person to lead our communication with institutional consulting firms in the United States," stated Mr. Eason.

Mr. Ford brings 11 years of experience in investment analysis and portfolio management, and 13 years of experience in advising institutional clients as a Senior Investment Consultant with RVK (formerly R.V. Kuhns & Associates). Earlier, he served as Senior Investment Consultant at Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting (2004-2009) and at Mercer Investment Consulting (2001-2004). Before that, Mr. Ford was a Portfolio Manager at Trusco Capital Management (1994-2000); a Senior Securities Analyst at Liberty Capital Advisors (1992-1994); and a Securities Analyst at Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company (1990-1992).

Mr. Ford is a CFA Charterholder, and member of the CFA Institute and CFA Los Angeles Society. He holds an MBA from Else School of Management at Millsaps College and a BBA in Business Management from Mississippi State University.

About Amundi Smith Breeden
Amundi Smith Breeden is the North American investment headquarters for Amundi, a top-10 global asset manager. Amundi Smith Breeden manages a range of U.S. fixed income strategies and contributes to global fixed income portfolios managed by Amundi investment professionals in Europe and Asia. Smith Breeden, now Amundi Smith Breeden, was founded as a research-driven institutional asset management firm specializing in the major U.S. fixed income sectors. The firm has a 30+ year history of pioneering work in developing and applying quantitative financial analysis to valuing and trading fixed income securities, including Agency and non-Agency mortgage-backed securities and corporate credit.

About Amundi
Amundi ranks first in Europe and in the Top 10 worldwide in the asset management industry with AUM of more than EUR 800 billion worldwide¹.

Located at the heart of the main investment regions in more than 30 countries, Amundi offers a comprehensive range of products covering all asset classes and major currencies.

Amundi has developed savings solutions to meet the needs of more than 100 million retail clients worldwide and designs innovative, high-performing products for institutional clients which are tailored specifically to their requirements and risk profile.

The Group contributes to funding the economy by orienting savings towards company development.

Amundi has become a leading European player in asset management, recognised for:

• Product performance and transparency;
• Quality of client relationships based on a long-term advisory approach;
• Efficiency in its organisation and teams' promise to serving its clients;
• Commitment to sustainable development and socially responsible investment policies.

1. Amundi Group figures as of 30 June 2014.

Issued by Amundi - Société anonyme with a share capital of EUR 596 262 615 - Portfolio manager regulated by the AMF under number GP04000036 - Head office: 90 boulevard Pasteur -- 75015 Paris -- France -- 437 574 452 RCS Paris

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