25/01/2013
Family office sector would like to communicate more
The family office sector, which is highly discreet by construction, appears to be desirous of becoming less reserved in order to promote the profession. “Recognition of the profession is our primary objective. We would also like to organise to develop a professional code of ethics,” Jean-Marie Paluel Marmont, president of the French association of family offices (AFFO) said at a pres conference on 24 January. To assist its members, about 100, or half, of whom are single and multi-family offices, and the other half of which are professional partners of family offices, the association is regularly holding themed mornings, such as one held recently on “Africa: new horizons for investment?” The association has also created dedicated commissions. There are currently four: philanthropy, education and training, family governance, and lastly, asset allocation. After publishing a white paper last year on philanthropy, the association is planning to publish two guides in 2013, one on family governance in first half, and one on education and training in second half. As a result of this work, the AFFO plans to gradually create a presence for itself as “the natural point of reference in the family office world” and “may in the future become the privileged interlocutor with market authorities.”
