Focus on Pensions

Bernard Delbecque is Senior Director for Economics and Research at EFAMA. Bernard is responsible for monitoring industry and market trends and has contributed to all initiatives taken by EFAMA to promote the creation of the pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP). Bernard served as Vice-Chair of EIOPA’s Occupational Pensions Stakeholder Group (OPSG) between April 2016 and October 2018, and as Chair of the OPSG between October 2018 and July 2020.  Bernard was appointed for a new term in the OPSG, starting in July 2020, and he was re-elected OPSG Chair for a term of two years.  Bernard also served as a member of ESMA’s Group of Economic Advisers in 2014-2016.

Prior to joining EFAMA, Bernard was a policy advisor to the Belgian Minister of Finance and previously he worked as an economist at the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

Bernard holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and has held various teaching positions at the Catholic University of Louvain and the University of Namur in Belgium.

Claude Kremer is a Founding Partner of Arendt & Medernach. His whole professional career has been devoted to the global fund and asset management industry advising clients on the setting up of Luxembourg investment and pension funds and providing legal support to asset managers, depositaries and other asset servicers with regard to the structuring and development of their businesses in Luxembourg.

Claude sits on the board of various international asset management groups as well as their fund ranges in Luxembourg. He is also a member of the executive board of the Intergenerational Sovereign Fund put in place by the Luxembourg Government in December 2014. In March 2017, Claude has been appointed to the Consultative Working Group of the Investment Management Standing Committee at the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). From October 2014 to June 2017, Claude served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Investment Funds Association (IIFA). From June 2011 to June 2013, Claude was president of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA). From May 2007 to June 2011, he was chairman of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI). In 2005, he was a member of the EU Commission expert group on market efficiency for the asset management sector.

Claude is the co-author of a book entitled Collective Investment Schemes in Luxembourg: Law and Practice (Oxford University Press, March 2014), which was first published in French (Les organismes de placement collectif en droit luxembourgeois, Larcier, Brussels, 3rd edition, 2014). In addition, he is a lecturer in fund law at the University of Luxembourg.

A member of the Luxembourg Bar since 1982, Claude holds Master’s degrees in law and in history from the Université Pierre Mendès France de Grenoble (France), as well as a Master’s degree in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (U.K.).

Christian Lemaire is a Board Member of Amundi Pension Fund, a pan-European Defined Contributions pension fund registered in Luxembourg. He is also a Member of the Occupational Pensions Stakeholder Group (OPSG) of the European Insurance & Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).

In the last 5 years, as Global Head of Retirement Solutions at Amundi, Christian structured innovative solutions for multinationals to manage and develop more efficiently their pension schemes internationally.

Previously, as Global Head of Insurance clients at Amundi, he structured dedicated investment solutions for insurers within the Solvency 2 framework. Formerly, as Special Advisor of the Senior Management of Credit Agricole Group, Christian worked on the reorganization of asset management and real estate subsidiaries and the private banking business line.

Previously, as Director of Finance, Strategy and Risks at Credit Agricole Consumer Finance / Leasing & Factoring, he was responsible in particular for corporate development, Assets & Liabilities Management, supervision of Risks Weighted Assets and capital requirements. Formerly, as Senior Banker within Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, Christian structured and executed major financings and equity / capital markets transactions for large groups. Before joining the Credit Agricole Group 18 years ago, as Finance Director of companies, he listed a large one on stock exchanges, managed Treasury, Investor Relations and corporate developments.

Christian is graduated with a Master of Engineering (Ecole Centrale Paris) and a MBA (HEC Paris / Wharton Business School in Philadelphia) majoring in finance. He is also a teaching professor in Masters covering Finance, Strategy, Corporate Development and Management.

Fausto Parente is the Executive Director of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA). In his role, he presides over the day-to-day management of EIOPA. Mr. Parente was elected by the Board of Supervisors of EIOPA on 28 January 2016 and reappointed for a second five-year term on 29 September 2020. Mr Parente has a distinguished career in supervisory re​gulations and policies at national and international level. Prior to his current role he was Head of the Supervisory Regulation and Policy Directorate at the Italian Insurance Supervisor, IVASS – Istituto di Vigilanza sulle Assicurazioni.

He was the Alternate Member in EIOPA Board of Supervisors and member of the Advisory Technical Committee of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB). In the context of the Italian Chairmanship in the EU Council (second half of 2014), Mr Parente chaired the Council’s working group on Insurance Mediation Directive negotiations. In 2011-2016 he chaired the Insurance Group Supervision Committee of EIOPA and in 2015-2016 – the Joint ESAs Committee on Financial Conglomerates. For several years he was an alternate member in the Technical and Financial Stability Committees of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).

Mr Parente has a degree in Economics from the University Federico II, Naples, and he is licensed to practice as a certified accountant and financial analyst. He has attended many post-graduate courses in the fields of management, European Community law, economy and finance of insurance undertakings. He is author of a series of publications on insurance supervision.​​​

Martin Parkes, Managing Director, is a member of BlackRock’s Global Public Policy Group based in London. Martin is responsible for engaging with policy makers and BlackRock’s clients on policy and regulation relating to investor protection and distribution, retirement and fund structures in the EU and the UK. He chairs the Investment Association’s International and European Policy Committee and is a member of the AMF’s Post Trade Consultative Committee. He regularly contributes to the work of key asset management trade bodes such as EFAMA, ICMA, ICI, the Investment Association, ALFI and Irish Funds.

He is also a committee member of BlackRock’s LGBT OUT network, particularly supporting the network on external events and outreach with other firms and networks.

Martin has worked at BlackRock since 2004 and prior to joining the Public Policy team he worked in BlackRock’s legal team responsible for BlackRock’s European-managed investment funds. Martin studied European Law at the University of Exeter and at the Université d’Aix-Marseille III and is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.

Jonathan Westhead currently serves as Head of Communications for Luxembourg for Finance (LFF), the agency for the development of the Luxembourg financial centre.

Prior to joining LFF, Jonathan worked at PwC where he was responsible for a team serving clients in the global asset and wealth management sector. In this role, he led projects for some of the world’s largest asset & wealth managers relating to trends and developments in the investment fund industry, as well as developing thought leadership and white papers for clients.  Jonathan has also worked as a researcher and taught undergraduate classes at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

He holds a master’s degree in Ancient Cultures from Stellenbosch University.