Paris-based LFDE (La Financière de l’Échiquier) is strategically enhancing its technological and Asian market capabilities through the establishment of a new technology team. This newly formed unit is co-led by Stéphane Nières-Tavernier and Kevin Net, and it comprises seven experts overseeing a significant portfolio of assets amounting to €2.6 billion.
The tech team’s dual mandate includes providing technology research across LFDE’s investment platform, which encompasses more than 50 investment professionals, and co-managing a suite of four thematic funds that focus on key areas such as artificial intelligence, space exploration, and robotics. Data from the firm’s fund updates indicate that at the close of 2025, LFDE’s technology team initially included four members managing approximately €1.9 billion in assets.
Among the new team members is Arnaud Brossard, who assumes the role of technology equity fund manager. Brossard brings a wealth of experience to LFDE, having spent 12 years at Lazard Frères Gestion. He began his tenure there as a research analyst specializing in semiconductors in 2014 and eventually managed strategies across both European and global innovation sectors. Prior to his work at Lazard, Brossard developed his expertise as a financial analyst at Exane BNP Paribas for six years, and he began his career at Oddo, where he focused on sectors including aerospace. He is also a CFA charterholder.
LFDE asserts that Asia has emerged as a crucial hub for innovation, alongside the United States and Europe. By integrating technology and Asian expertise, the firm aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on global technology value chains. Its Chief Investment Officer, Michel Saugné, emphasized the importance of technological disruptions that are reshaping business models and value chains worldwide. In this context, LFDE seeks to establish itself as a prominent technology hub within France and Europe. Notably, LFDE pioneered France’s first dedicated artificial intelligence fund in 2018 and Europe’s first actively managed space fund in 2021.
Having been present in Switzerland since 2010, LFDE opened an office in Geneva in 2016. The firm’s founder, Didier Le Menestrel, has praised Zurich as a potential “holy grail” for Swiss banking, targeting opportunities in the German-speaking regions of the country. In May 2026, LFDE appointed Samira Sadik as the Country Head for Switzerland, based in Geneva, where she oversees operations across both French- and German-speaking regions, reporting to Anne-Sophie Girault, who leads International Development from the same office.
LFDE has been a subsidiary of LBP AM, the asset management arm of La Banque Postale, since July 2023. The firm currently manages assets worth €26 billion and employs over 170 professionals across offices in Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and the Benelux countries.
By merging technological expertise with insights from the Asian market, LFDE is positioning itself for future growth in an increasingly competitive investment landscape.