FINANCE: Career journeys of NEOMA graduates #1

Pierre-Antoine Nonotte-Varly (MiM 11) has spearheaded the growth of listed and hybrid assets at Sienna Investment Managers since 2022. This NEOMA alumnus is named in Institut Choiseul’s “Finance of Tomorrow” ranking in the asset management category. Here we take a closer look at his career so far. 

Finance at NEOMA: a pleasant surprise!

“My goal at first was to carve out a career in the army and, since that was possible after business school, I enrolled at NEOMA. And that’s where I discovered the field of finance, which I really enjoyed.” 

Pierre-Antoine shelved his plan to join the army as finance became his new priority. When the 2008 financial crisis derailed his first internship in mergers and acquisitions, Pierre-Antoine found a position as a sales assistant intern in a hedge fund almost by chance. “Even in those early days, I had to draw on my teaching skills to explain the often opaque world of hedge funds to clients who were wealth management advisors.” 

From apprentice to executive: a fast-track journey

After completing an Erasmus exchange in Sweden, Pierre-Antoine joined Crédit Agricole Asset Management (now known as Amundi), France’s leading asset management firm. Beginning as a work-study trainee, he spent five years developing his career there. “I helped companies in the CAC 40 and SBF 120 manage their collective savings plans, which was a valuable training ground.”

Pierre-Antoine later had a hand in putting together a sales team dedicated to unlisted, real and alternative assets – emerging fields that once again called for detailed explanation.
After a stint at Allianz Global Investors, he moved to Sienna Investment Managers, a subsidiary of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, to help drive a new entrepreneurial effort. “Heading up a multi-product, multi-client division added a new dimension to my career.”

Named in Choiseul’s “Finance of Tomorrow” list

As a newcomer to the asset management market, Sienna Investment Managers quickly established its reputation through a client-centric approach, with a strong focus on retirement and employee savings.

Pierre-Antoine was the driving force behind the brand’s market presence. “Through online videos and interviews, I’ve spent a lot of time making various economic concepts and our innovative solutions more accessible. This exposure, both on a corporate and personal level, meant I was included in the Choiseul Finance de Demain ranking.”

By the close of 2024, Sienna managed over €40 billion in assets, including €28.6 billion in listed investments handled by Pierre-Antoine and his team. The goal for the years ahead is to scale up brand awareness, win over new investors (€8.6 billion already raised in two years) and grow the team. 

New recruits are being brought on board. “We take on a large number of work-study students. It’s a win-win model: we train young talent, watch them grow, and when we come to hire them, we know them inside out!” 

A passion for sharing knowledge

Pierre-Antoine makes sure that his teams are always multi-skilled, comprising three senior salespeople and three apprentices or interns equipped with the skills needed to adapt to various client profiles. “This agility opens up new possibilities for them and strengthens their commitment.”

The NEOMA alumnus advises young graduates to be proactive: “Don't let yourself be boxed in by your job description. Push the boundaries. And remember you’re the one responsible for building your career. If you do that, you’ll keep your motivation alive in the long run!” Once a teacher, always a teacher – that’s Pierre-Antoine Nonotte-Varly.

This profile appeared in NEOMA Alumni Magazine No. 42. Click here if you would like to browse the issue in full.