Frédéric Genta, former Interministerial Delegate for Attractiveness and Digital Transition, has joined Azura Partners as Head of Europe. He discusses the reasons behind this move and the strategy that positions Monaco at the heart of an international project.
You left your position in the government to join Azura Partners. Why did you make this choice?
It's not a departure, it's a continuation. I have always served Monaco, and today I am doing so from the private sector, helping to build an international champion born here. Azura Partners is the only global wealth management company with offices in all the world's major business hubs and founded in the Principality. I manage our European operations from Monaco with a clear vision: to create an independent, agile and innovation-driven global leader.
What makes Azura unique in the world of wealth management?
Three key elements:
- A comprehensive multi-class offering covering the major asset classes: listed equities (active, passive, thematic, ESG), private equity funds, co-investments, club deals, private debt, structured products, bonds, secondary and cash. This architecture enables us to offer tailor-made solutions with a dedicated investment banking team – a rarity in our industry.
- Direct connectivity to more than 20 international financial institutions, enabling us to aggregate the best research and opportunities on the market.
- Strong and continuous growth, driven by our technology platform and our seven international offices in Monaco, Geneva, London, Paris, New York, Miami, and Singapore. More than €5 billion in assets are currently managed from these strategic hubs.
You recently welcomed Lunate, one of the largest funds in the Middle East, to your capital. What impact will this have on Azura?
This is a strategic partnership. Lunate manages more than $110 billion and plays a central role in the regional sovereign ecosystem. Their investment validates our ambition and strengthens our resources. They are supporting us in opening new offices, particularly in the Middle East, and in recruiting top-notch teams. This partnership accelerates our development and opens up unique investment opportunities for our clients. It also enables us to make exponential progress on our technology platform, which will be the cornerstone of our growth.
Why did Lunate choose Azura?
Because our model is clear, our growth proven, and our technology platform designed for global scale. We recruit full teams, build a strong culture, and invest heavily in tech—including AI-related applications. Our architecture is lightweight, scalable, and debt-free. That's rare in our industry. Another key element is our ability to grow organically, which has allowed us to preserve our culture and avoid complex integrations and technological debt.
Does this partnership open doors to the Gulf for your clients?
It will obviously allow our clients to be very connected to this ecosystem. It gives us access to exceptional opportunities—in private equity, bonds, and sectors such as tech and pharma. But this partnership is not a distribution agreement; it is a strategic alliance. Our approach remains the same: thanks to our offices in major economic hubs, we connect our clients to the right deals, at the right time, in the right regions.
You are also developing activities in philanthropy and co-investment...
Our clients want to give meaning to their wealth, so we support them both in their philanthropic projects and in aligning their investments in private markets, either directly or through co-investments, with these commitments. Our role is also to build or rebuild bridges within families and between generations around genuine convictions.
How do you approach investing in an uncertain world?
By starting with the client, not the product. We don't have any in-house products, and there's no sales pressure. We build tailor-made portfolios, thanks to access to the research of twelve major global banks. It is this intellectual independence and rigor that form the basis of true wealth management.
What are your development priorities?
Zurich is our next step. Other European locations are also being considered, such as Milan, Paris, and Luxembourg, depending on how our teams develop and opportunities arise. We also have an advanced project in Abu Dhabi. The idea is simple: to build a global leader in wealth management with European and Middle Eastern roots. This leadership should not be reserved for Americans. It can come from Monaco.
What role does Monaco play in this project?
It is central. This is where Azura was founded by our founder Ali Jamal, who is also a Monegasque resident, which fully embodies our local roots. We want to strengthen our local presence: recruit and build a strong Monegasque team, work with local banks, and contribute to the financial ecosystem. We have engaged in constructive dialogue with the high-quality public and private players who drive the Monegasque economy. The goal is clear: for Azura to become a symbol of excellence, influence, and international ambition in Monaco.
