KBL European Private Bankers (KBL epb), headquartered in Luxembourg and operating in 50 cities in Europe, announced today the appointment of Kristel Cools – who has nearly 20 years of experience in banking and asset management in senior roles – as Group Head of Asset Management.

In this newly created position, Cools assumes responsibility for the management and sales of all group funds. KBL epb currently offers a total of 65 in-house funds to its clients and distribution partners across Europe.

Reporting to Group CIO Stefan Van Geyt, Cools will streamline and enhance the group’s existing fund range – raising awareness of the brand name “Richelieu Investment Funds,” under which such funds are marketed – while strengthening the group’s fund sales organization and growing total assets under management.

In this pan-European role, Cools will divide her time primarily between the offices of KBL epb in Luxembourg, Puilaetco Dewaay in Brussels and KBL Richelieu in Paris. She possesses a deep knowledge of each of these domestic investment markets, as well as the additional European markets where the group is present.

A graduate of the University of Antwerp who holds a degree in commercial engineering, Cools most recently served as Head of Group Networks at BNP Paribas Investment Partners Belgium, where she was also a member of the Executive Committee.