International Webinar: Building exciting brands by using a leadership mindset
2020-07-10 12:00 UTC
Description
Building exciting brands by using a leadership mindset with Mihai Bonca, Senior Marketing Consultant and Clinical Lecturer, MBA, University of Oxford
Fiday, June 10th from 12h00 to 12h45
Successful marketing can be described as applied thought leadership applied into a specific marketplace. It creates ownable competitive advantages by building relationships, trust and long-term consumer value. Empowers companies know more about their audience than competitors do. Differentiates brands, ensures attachment, leads to longer customer lifetime value and as a result, higher profitability. Any leading organization operates in a meaningful H2H (humans to humans) space, not in B2B or B2C.
However, the majority of brands are commodities, pitching clients mainly on lower price and promos. They fail to build distinction or devotion. Their strategies usually lack leadership, strategy, consumer “Big Ideas”, human experience and rely on daily tactics. As a consequence, profitability struggles as well.
Agenda
1. Competitive Advantages:

Leaders create superior performance by better understanding customers and differentiating against competition
We will debate about the principle of building on strengths and minimizing flaws. To achieve that, a company should prioritize, focus on “Points of Difference”, aiming to become dissimilar. Should avoid waste on “Traps” and “Nice to have”. Competitive Weaknesses should be minimized in time as “Points of Parity”
Two main positionings: low margins/ high volumes vs. differentiation/ specialization
Key tool: Competitive Map

2. Brand Architecture:

The architecture shows the way a brand connects with the outside world through a mix of performance and promises. We will highlight how the leading brands are built through a clear ambition, values, beliefs, benefits, arguments, personality and design elements.
In successful cases a brand becomes a magnetic artefact, able to attract a loyal “tribe” of customers
Best in class examples: old school – Mastercard vs. Visa, new school – Revolut
Key tool: Brand Relationship Ladder

Bio sketch:
Mihai Bonca is a Senior Consultant at Brand Architects. He has extensive experience involving brand repositioning and renovations. The local and international brands lead by Mihai repeatedly achieved market leadership, while he received more than 25 industry awards for marketing contribution.
He helps Boards and CEOs of local and multinational organizations redefining strategies, transforming brands and marketing approach, building roadmaps. In the past, Mihai held Board Member positions and managed four countries as a Group Marketing Director. His expertise ranges from traditional FMCG to B2B and e-Commerce.
Mihai holds an MBA degree from Oxford University and contributes towards the new generation of professionals by teaching Marketing Strategy as a Lecturer/ Clinical Expert in different business schools.
When not in office, with clients, in conferences or with students, Mihai can be spotted on the basketball court.

International Showcase: The Blockchain Industry in Luxembourg
2020-07-14 14:00 - 17:00
Description
The blockchain ecosystem in Luxembourg had a huge growth in the last 3 years, with international key players choosing the country as their European Headquarter: bitFlyer, Tokeny, Scorechain, Bitstamp, Blockchain.com, HQLAx, Fundsquare, VNX, Morfin, and many others.
What makes Luxembourg so attractive for blockchain and digital assets companies?
Join us for this unique webinar and dive into the blockchain ecosystem with industry experts.
Agenda:
02:00pm – Let’s browse the Luxembourg Blockchain ecosystem
02:10pm – First block: Infrachain, creating an on-top governance framework for the Blockchain Community in Europe, a non-profit organization supported by the Government – Tom Kettels, Operational Lead
02:20pm – Second block: How the Blockchain ecosystem interacts with the Fintech landscape – LHoFT and Laurent Marochini, SGSS
02:30pm – Third block: Tobias Seidl, Co-Founder / Product Strategy (Lead), Stokr
02:40pm – Q&A

International Webinar: Challenges and Opportunities in Asset Management, Alternative Data & AI post-Covid19
2020-07-15 17:00 - 18:00
Description
International Leadership Perspective
Challenges and Opportunities in Asset Management, Alternative Data & AI post-Covid19
with Reza Khorshidi D.Phil., Global Chief Scientist at AIG
“Big Data” and “Artificial Intelligence” have been buzzwords in the financial services industry for several years, but why? What value can be extracted from data and how can AI be utilised to increase effectiveness, customer experience and, ultimately, profitability? The largest and most famous companies on our planet are fuelled by data – Google, Facebook, Amazon, Alibaba, Apple and the like. How is the financial services industry look to harness the power of data to compete in our data centric world?
Reza Khorshidi is Chief Scientist at AIG. With an extensive and admirable education and experience in Machine Learning and AI, Reza will share his insight into how AI and data are transforming the asset management and insurance sector.
3 learning outcomes

Why is data so important to creating value and can financial services truly harness it for the benefit of the customer and their own business?
How can AI be utilised in the asset management and insurance industry to drive better decision making and services?
What challenges, endogenous and exogenous, does the financial services industry face in optimising the use of AI within the industry?

The fireside chat will be followed by a live Q&A with the audience.
Biography Reza Khorshidi
Reza Khorshidi, Chief Scientist for global insurance company AIG, leads the company’s AI innovations and machine learning research. He is also a principal investigator for the Deep Medicine program at the University of Oxford’s Martin School, which is focused on healthcare innovation and the use of AI in digital health ecosystems. He obtained his DPhil ( PhD) in computational neuroscience and machine learning from the University of Oxford in 2010 and since then has been leading teams, research initiatives, and innovation projects in both academia and industry.

THE CEO ROUNDTABLE - The Future of Financial Services
2020-07-17 12:00
Description
THE CEO ROUNDTABLE
The Future of Financial Services
COVID19 has had an unprecedented impact on the world’s health, economy, and within that, our financial services industry. Institutions that were already investing in new digital solutions for their business have begun to rethink their digital strategy, focus and resource allocation based on their experiences over the past months; some to refocus, some to create emphasis, some to manage potential future risks that may again arise in a similar vein to COVID19.
On July 17th, we will bring together leading CEOs from the Luxembourg financial services sector to discuss their thoughts on digitalization going forward; how they feel it is progressing, the challenges, the opportunities, and, in particular, how COVID19 may have impacted their thinking and strategy and what they see as priorities and needs.
MAIN TAKEAWAYS

Insight into key areas of focus in the digital sphere for financial institutions
What are the challenges that institutions face related to digital transformation
How finance leaders see the financial services landscape in the future and the competitive differentiators

with
Arnaud Jacquemin – CEO of Socgen Luxembourg Group
Arnaud Jacquemin joined Societe Generale Group in 1993 within SG CIB, where he worked in a number of positions both in France and the USA, notably in project finance then as head of strategy for SG CIB. In 2003, he joined the Finance and Development division as Deputy Head, then Head of Financial Management. In 2008, he was appointed Group Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In 2012 he joined the Risk division as Deputy Chief Risk Officer. He was appointed Group Deputy General Secretary in 2015, notably heading the transformation of the Compliance division, and Deputy Head of Group Compliance in 2017. In June 2018, he became Group Country Head for Luxembourg and CEO of Societe Generale Luxembourg, which conducts all Group businesses in Luxembourg.
Robert Van Kerkhoff – Managing Director of BNP Paribas Securities Services Region Lux, Ireland & Channel Islands
Robert van Kerkhoff was Head of Risk Management at Fortis Bank for the Brokerage Custody and Clearing activity in the Netherlands, became COO of Fortis Bank Spain and Portugal in 2008 and joined BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain as Head of Client Solutions in 2010. In 2013, Robert was appointed Deputy Head of Asset and Fund Services Operations, based in Paris, building and managing the global operational model and AFS management support. In March 2015, Robert was appointed Head of the Netherlands and the Nordics and on 1 April 2020 he became Head of BNP Paribas Securities Services Luxembourg, Ireland and the Channel Islands. He is also a member of BNP Paribas Securities Services’ European Executive Committee. Robert holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Amsterdam.
Eduardo Gramuglia – Country Head of State Street Luxembourg
Eduardo Gramuglia Pallavicino, senior vice president and country head of State Street in Luxembourg, is responsible for the business strategy and governance. Prior to his current role, he was responsible for business development, relationship management, client onboarding and change. He was an authorised manager and a member of the State Street Bank Luxembourg S.C.A. management board. Eduardo is an active member of the Association of Luxembourg Funds Industry (ALFI) and contributes to the work of several of its working groups. He received a degree in political sciences from the University La Sapienza in Rome, Italy and speaks Spanish, Italian, French and English.
Nasir Zubairi – CEO of LHoFT
Nasir is CEO of The LHoFT – The Luxembourg House of Financial Technology, a public/private sector initiative to drive fintech innovation in Luxembourg. He is also a Non-Executive Board Director of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) S.A and sits on the IMF’s High Level Advisory Group on Finance and Technology. Nasir has worked in Financial Services for 20 years. He spent 13 years working within Capital Markets at RBS, ICAP, HSBC and EBS. He has been immersed in the Fintech and startup sector for the past seven years. As an entrepreneur, Nasir has built multiple Fintech businesses across verticals. He has advised the boards of leading financial institutions, central banks and governments. Nasir is included in the “Top 40 innovators shaping the future of financial services -2014” by The Wall Street Journal/Financial News. Nasir has a BSc from the London School of Economics and is a Sloan Fellow from London Business School.

Financial Times Live and State Street presents : Volatility to Value in the Investment Industry
2020-09-03 - 2020-11-17
Description
Financial Times Live and State Street presents :
Volatility to Value in the Investment Industry
We are pleased to present the following set of digital events :
1) Lessons From the Crisis: Managing risk and building resilience in investment operations
Thursday 3 September 2020 | 3pm BST (GMT+1), 10am EDT
2) Insourcing vs. Outsourcing: Finding the optimal model for investment operations
Wednesday 30 September 2020 | 1pm BST (GMT+1), 8am EDT
3) Scaling-Up: Identifying new growth paths for institutional investors
Friday 23 October 2020 | 1pm BST (GMT+1), 8am EDT
4) Consolidation in Asset Management: Are we at a tipping point ?
Tuesday 17 November 2020 | 2pm BST (GMT+1), 9am EDT
To discover the speakers and more information about the sessions, click here

Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2020
2020-09-08 - 2020-09-22
Description
The Sustainable Investment Forum Europe is going virtual with a European focused month dedicated to responsible investment.
The virtual forum will take place across four dates; on the 8th, 11th, 15th and 22nd September, so you can view the sessions live or in your own time on-demand.
Who will attend?
Asset owners, asset managers, service providers and policymakers to discuss how investors are aligning with global climate and sustainability targets.
Why attend?

Share views on how the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan is driving change
Engage with a range of asset owners, asset managers and senior policy makers
Collaborate and compare sustainability strategies on asset owner and manager approaches to sustainable investment, climate disclosure and the UN SDGs
Adapt and share best practice for European sustainable investment in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic

Featured Speakers:

Magnus Billing, CEO, Alecta
Morgan Despres, Deputy Director General of Financial Stability & Operations, Banque de France
Valentijn van Nieuwenhuijzen, Chief Investment Officer, NN Investment Partners
Olivier Rousseau, Executive Director, Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites (FRR)
Martin Spolc, Head of Sustainable Finance Unit, European Commission
Eric Usher, Head, UNEP Finance Initiative

AGENDA
PART 1 – Tue, 8 September 2020: Building a coherent financial system to support ESG and global sustainable growth

How to decarbonise your investment portfolio
ESG investing, integration and application of data
Active versus passive investing in ESG
Overcoming the ESG data challenge
Has COVID-19 refocused attention on the S and G of ESG?

MORE on Part 1
PART 2 – Friday, 11 September 2020: Aligning investments with the Paris Agreement and the UN SDGs

Is climate engagement across the European financial community working?
Using strategic asset allocation to achieve a 1.5 degree aligned portfolio
Are UN SDGs compatible with ESG investing returns
Has COVID-19 refocused sustainable finance?
Climate change matters – practical solutions on decarbonising portfolios

MORE on Part 2
PART 3 – Tuesday, 15 September 2020: Laying the foundations for responsible and sustainable investment in Europe

COVID-19: Sustainable Finance and the Future of the Global Economy
What is the CIO role in the sustainability agenda?
The importance of leadership in a time of climate and health crisis
Evolving policies and regulatory requirements in the EU and beyond
An update on UN-backed Green Climate Fund agenda
The impact of COVID-19 on sustainable investing and global resilience financing

MORE on Part 3
PART 4 – Tuesday, 22 September 2020: Responsible investing in a low return, low carbon environment

European sustainable finance: the EU’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Going beyond Climate: Managing Environment Risks.
Legal Framework for Impact: Mainstreaming Impact in Investment

MORE on Part 4

BLBA and IBLCCI Panel Discussion: Fintech, The Luxembourg Advantage
2020-09-09 12:30
Description
The Belgium-Luxembourg Business Association (BLBA) together with Embassy of Luxembourg in New Dehli, Luxinnovation, Luxembourg For Finance, the Indo-Belgium Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBBLCCI), CommSol Associate and the LHoFT are pleased to invite you an exclusive panel discussion on
Fintech: The Luxembourg Advantage

Wednesday, 9th of September 2020
From 4.00 to 5.00PM (IST)
From 12.30 to 1.30PM (Luxembourg Time)

with

H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Kugener, Ambassodor of Luxembourg in India
Mr. Alex Panican, Head of Partnerships and Ecosystem and Development at the LHoFT
Mr. Philipp von Restorff, Deputy CEO of Luxembourg for Finance
Mr. Siddharth Karmakar, Associate Director & Head of India CommSol Associates
Mr. Rajiv Dhawan, President, BLBA
Mr. Ignace Hindrick, Vice President, BLBA
Mr. Anis Chakravarty, President, IBLCCI

Join via the ZOOM link, here!

European AI For Finance 2020
2020-09-10
Description
WHAT’S EUROPEAN AI FOR FINANCE?
We are creating the most exclusive Artificial InteIligence initiative focused on the financial industry in Europe.
A unique opportunity to gather the European AI ecosystem with the European Financial ecosystem: hundreds of corporates, startups, Fintechs, research labs and communities.
AI for Finance propose more than a webinar. By taking part in this event you will access to a complete digital experience with dedicated activities.
INTERNATIONAL STAGE
100% interactive business roundtables with experts from all around the world to share concrete use cases. Lead your experience by interacting with the speakers thanks to our Q/A tool.
DIGITAL DEMO ZONE
Let’s watch demos and meet with AI actors on their digital show booth.
NETWORKING
Connect with the other participants and organise impactful online meetings. We will propose you the best profiles for you thanks to a matchmaking algorithm.
LHoFT is sponsor of European AI For Finance
Ask for more info and your access ticket to the LHoFT Team

Stepup - a festival of sustainable finance by mattrvest
2020-09-10 10:30 - 2020-09-11 23:30
Description
STEPUP: a festival to celebrate sustainable finance and the changemakers enabling it!
WHAT
A 2-day virtual festival that brings change-makers, corporates, bankers and policy makers, together to work towards the common goal of making sustainable finance mainstream!
Join LHoFT Member Mattrvest for a 2 day extravaganza workshops, debates, discussions, and competitions around sustainable finance.
Learn and interact with experts during our panels, workshops, round table discussions and take your first step towards making your money sustainable.
And that’s not it, we will also enable you to take actions during the festival, whether it is about finding the right financial advice or joining campaigns around sustainable finance.
WHY
Let’s face it, despite the progress made on sustainable development goals, we are 10 years away from achieving the targets and well it’s not on track. It’s time for all of us to STEPUP the pace for sustainable development.
There is a need to accelerate this change and it has been established that making our money sustainable can have up to 27x more positive impact on the planet than switching to more sustainable consumption choices.
What exactly does make your money sustainable mean? Can we make our money grow while being sustainable? How do I get started?
If these questions interest you, come join us for the virtual festival. Our team at mattrvest, came with the concept of stepup to empower to get started with your journey to make your money sustainable. Understand various concepts, myths and trends in the field of sustainable finance and take your first steps towards making your impact on our planet with your money.
HOW
Your ticket gives you access to all the panels, workshops and Idea lab pitches.

mattrvest helps you to learn, plan, save and invest in what matters to you. The team at mattrvest works with various ecosystem partners and looks to empower the youth by helping them make better and sustainable financial decisions.
Visit mattrvest.com to learn more.

Focus on Payments by Luxembourg For Finance
2020-09-10 14:30
Description
Focus on Payments by Luxembourg For Finance
Luxembourg for Finance will livestream its digital event Focus on Payments on Thursday, 10 September 2020 at 14h30.
Please join our experts online as they’re discussing the current development of the European payments market.
Interactive tools such as Q&A and polls will be integrated.
A replay video of the panel discussions will be made available on the LFF communications channels.
Online registration will open on Monday, 3 August 2020
For sponsorship opportunities please contact the LFF events team:

Caroline Hoeltgen
Tatjana Schaefer
Aurélie Zambeaux

ALFI Rentrée: The virtual reunion of the Fund Industry
2020-09-14 - 2020-09-18
Description
At ALFI, we have been working hard over these past months to adapt our event calendar to the continued uncertainty around physical gatherings. We are now proud to announce that we have created a brand-new event concept to reconnect the fund industry.
It’s back to school and back to the investment funds community in the week of 14-18 September 2020.
An innovative WEEK of webinars will combine European asset management themes with global distribution topics. It will allow the fund community to come together again, exchange ideas, learn, and re-kindle business relationships in virtual form.
ALFI is organising a whole week of different activities for Luxembourg and the global fund industry that each individual can tailor to his/her interests and needs with a special focus on:

Sustainable investing: case studies, the taxonomy and compliance matters
Impact investing: build back better
An economist’s perspective on the “new normal”

Registration is opening soon
Please contact events@alfi.lu if you have any questions

ICT Spring Europe 2020
2020-09-15 - 2020-09-16
Description
ICT Spring Europe 20/20 – The place where Digital, Tech & Science converge
Organizers have taken up the challenge to design an online experience offering a unique opportunity for visitors, exhibitors and sponsors to boost their business in these uncertain times.
ICT Spring remains the place to foster innovation and leverage international contacts. Take part in an unprecedented experience combining live conferences, virtual exhibitions, remote networking and targeted side events.
LHoFT is pround to sponsor this year ICT Special Edition
Ask for your free entry ticket to the LHoFT Team
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
Walk Down the aisles of this first online edition and enjoy privileged interactions with exhibitors
by sharing their latest news, videos. Exchange views with representatives and meet in one place all the main players of your industry.
LIVESTREAMING
Enjoy a 2-day conference broadcasted online to follow the presentations of international guest speakers, all committed to inspiring the public on the major trends in their respective sectors.
SIDE EVENTS
Discover the first line-up of partners and side’s events in the frame of the digital week by ICT Spring.
NETWORKING
Meet with the professionals of your industry randomly by using a brand new tool developed by
the organisers. It connects people internationally and is launched during ICT Spring. Check out the agenda imagined for the occasion!
WEBINARS
Attend insightful presentations during the 2-day event. Seize this opportunity to advance industry knowledge with experts.

Fintech Abu Dhabi: The Search - Germany/Luxembourg
2020-09-16 14:00
Description
Welcome to The Search, Germany/Luxembourg – the tenth stop on FinTech Abu Dhabi’s global tour.
Between June and November, FinTech Abu Dhabi invites you to join its digital tour of 23 countries – scouting for, and hearing from, the founders of the world’s most exciting early stage FinTech startups.
The very best of these startups will be invited to join the prestigious FinTech100 programme, within the FinTech Abu Dhabi Festival, 2020. So, if you are leading a disruptive startup in the financial technology space, make sure you apply to present at the tour stop closest to you. See you there!
FinTech Abu Dhabi 2020 is co-hosted by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and powered by Unbound.
Startups shortlisted:

IBISA – Index based insurance marketplace with satellite adoption.
NDGIT – NDGIT provides the API platform for banking and insurance
NECT – The Self-Service Future of Identity Verification as a Service
OWNLY – The digital family office OWNLY brings together the total assets in one place and allows the aggregation of accounts and deposits with different banks.
Tokeny Solutions – The end-to-end compliant platform to issue, manage and transfer securities on the blockchain.

Judging Panel:

Vishal Sacheendran, Manager – Capital Markets Authorisation Financial Services Regulatory Authority, ADGM
Shu Pui Li, Advisor – Central Bank of UAE
Mark Hudson, Managing Director – Unbound

Register here!

Hacknowledge Webinar - Discover Hacknowledge Software Factory
2020-09-17 11:00
Description
Hacknowledge Webinar – Discover Hacknowledge Software Factory
The expansion of Hacknowledge, and the growing need for new features and tools, has set the necessity of producing more software and improved quality.
Their Software-Factory (SoFa) is the answer to these challenges.
The webinar will answer the following questions:

How does SoFa work?
Why Agile?
How are customer requests handled?

Please join the presentation and bring your questions.Register: use our contact form, subject : webinar

Focus on Switzerland by Luxembourg For Finance
2020-09-22 10:30 - 12:00
Description
Focus on Switzerland by Luxembourg For Finance
Luxembourg for Finance will livestream its digital event Focus on Switzerland on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 from 10h30 to 12h00, honoured by a welcome address by HE Pierre Gramegna, Luxembourg Minister of Finance.
Please follow our experts online as they discuss topics ranging from Luxembourg solutions for Swiss wealth managers to life insurance and trends in wealth structuration.
Interactive tools such as Q&A and polls will be integrated. A replay video of the panel discussions will be made available on the LFF communications channels.
Online registration will open on Monday, 10 August 2020.
For sponsorship opportunities please contact the LFF events team:

Caroline Hoeltgen
Tatjana Schaefer
Aurélie Zambeaux
