AXA IM reshapes its Metaverse fund to capture broader opportunities in the AI landscape

The change of name reflects the expansion of the fund investment universe to include the Artificial Intelligence (AI) broader investment universe and growth opportunities as the AI revolution extends beyond the boundaries of the Metaverse.

Commenting on the renaming of the fund, Tom Riley, Head of Global Thematic Strategies at AXA IM Equity, said: “We strongly believe synergies between AI and the Metaverse are offering unprecedented opportunities – yet the AI revolution extends beyond the boundaries of the Metaverse. Whilst existing companies in our portfolio have been at the cutting edge of AI innovations, by expanding our investment universe to include the broader AI landscape, we believe we could capture even more interesting opportunities.”
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​“By seizing one of the most important themes of our generation, the fund can adapt to investors seeking to capture exposure to this fast-moving sector, and its growing set of credible long-term growth opportunities. The rise of AI and its capabilities has made it increasingly clear that its evolution is neither a trend nor parallel development, but a powerful accelerator of the Metaverse.”

AXA IM is an established active manager in the technology and disruptive technology space, managing c.$6bn of assets. The Metaverse strategy was launched in 2022, as part of AXA IM’s commitment to identify and capture the growth potential of disruptive technologies for its clients. The AXA WF AI & Metaverse fund will continue to be co-managed by Pauline Llandric, Technology Portfolio Manager and Brad Reynolds, Technology Portfolio Manager, both based in London.

Capital at risk. The value of investments, and any income from them, may fall as well as rise and investors may get back less than they originally invested.

Notes to editors

Pauline Llandric is Technology Portfolio Manager and co-Lead Portfolio Manager for the AI & Metaverse strategy at AXA IM. She is a Portfolio Manager on several Technology related funds/mandates.

Previously Pauline was a Senior Investment Research Analyst in the Investment Analytics team, focusing on portfolio engineering, investment research and risk analysis at AXA IM. Pauline started her investment career in September 2008 as a quantitative analyst at AXA IM.

Pauline graduated with an Industrial Engineering Degree from INP Toulouse in 2007 and a master’s degree in finance from Paris-Dauphine University in 2008. Pauline is a CFA Charterholder.

Brad Reynolds is Technology Portfolio Manager, and co-Lead Portfolio Manager for the ​ AI & Metaverse strategy at AXA IM with 17 years of investment experience across both long-only and long-short equity strategies.

Prior to joining AXA IM, Brad gained over eight years’ experience as a technology sector specialist within the Polar Capital Technology Team. His role involved an investment focus upon high growth companies within the Internet and Software sub-sectors, alongside an expansion across to the Industrial sector in the pursuit of technology disruption ideas outside the traditional tech sector. Between 2011-2014, Brad was an Equity long/short Analyst at Ratio Asset Management and then subsequently a founding member of the Polar Capital European Market Neutral team as the Ratio European Opportunities Fund transferred to Polar Capital.

Brad started his career as a Hedge Funds Marketing Executive at Gartmore Investment Management in 2001 and became a Hedge Fund Analyst at F&C Partners LLP in 2007. Brad holds a BA Hons in Business Studies from the University of Hertfordshire.

Tom Riley is the Head of Global Thematic Strategies at AXA IM Equities and the lead Portfolio Manager of the AXA Robotech strategy and Evolving Trends strategy.

In his role as Head of Global Thematic Strategies, he is responsible for overseeing the thematics investments teams globally and coordinating the investment views across the major themes that are forecast to impact the global economy over the coming years.

Tom started his career in 2009 with AXA IM Framlington Equities as an Investment analyst before joining the Global Equity and Technology investment teams in 2013. ​ Tom is a CFA Charterholder and holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics & Statistics from Bristol University.

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