Multi-skills and challenges helped this banker future-proof his finance career

Mr Marc Lansonneur, 57, a graduate of ESSEC Business School and a long-term banker, compares finance to rugby. Like the sport, the world today demands boldness, stress management and situational awareness. His ability to adapt skills and openness to challenges has enabled him to work in six cities across four continents and transform his industry and clients' portfolios.

Currently the Managing Director and Head of Managed Solutions at DBS Wealth Management, he is also a member of the bank's Sustainability Council, advocating for investing based on a company's ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) impact.

"Driving the implementation of an ESG-focused investing strategy has been very meaningful to me. As a banker, I can contribute to driving positive change, while assisting our clients to both do well and do good through their investments," he says.

Embracing challenges with openness

Mr Lansonneur, a permanent resident, has spent the last 18 years in Singapore. While at ESSEC, he became interested in the region, and is grateful for both a horizon-broadening education and opportunities to travel overseas.

Originally from a small town in southern France, he wanted to travel the world. ESSEC's Grand Ecole programme, equivalent to a Master's degree, where he studied for a Master of Business Administration (MBA), helped him open doors. He not only gained the skills and versatility that enabled his future financial career, but also fell in love with Asia after two successive internships in Japan and Hong Kong in 1986 and 1987.

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Back then, marketing and corporate strategy were popular fields of study. Banking - especially derivatives, which Mr Lansonneur later specialised in - and working abroad were less popular. As a result of his broad training at ESSEC in France, whose Asia-Pacific campus is in Singapore, he was able to explore this route after graduation. A stint in a London office led to placements in Chicago, Taiwan, Sydney, Budapest, and, finally, Singapore. "ESSEC broadened my mind and gave me optionality," he says. "It was a great eye-opener."

His advice to those aspiring to follow in his footsteps? Keep your options open. "The skills people need today are very different. Adapting is key. You need to have not only technical knowledge, but also data management and relationship management; you need to be multi-skilled."

Going green, staying green

The need for adaptability applies equally to companies, not just individuals. His focus on ESG investing is firmly rooted in the future.

In DBS' Sustainability Council, Mr Lansonneur's main role is to rate all investment instruments independently using American firm MSCI's ESG criteria, which powers better investment decisions. Currently, about 70 per cent has been completed. In response to his sustainability push, DBS Private Bank's Assets Under Management (AUM) comprised 55 per cent sustainable investments as of July 2022. This was an increase from 43 per cent in December 2020.

Mr Lansonneur believes a bank can invest in 'virtuous' companies while considering their bottom lines.

"If we want to democratise ESG and get more people on board, we need to prioritise performance," he says. "A bank has a responsibility to its clients to ensure their money is made. Yet within that, ESG is an additional layer of criteria that can be integrated without compromising profitability."

He believes companies that focus heavily on ESG are more likely to thrive, grow, and sustain themselves in the long run. All other things being equal, it is a "no-brainer" to invest in them. "It is like free insurance for your investment," he says.

He also believes explaining ESG to clients is just as important as changing company policies. By giving people more details, he empowers them to make better choices.

"Adapting to challenges is a positive personal benefit, not a constraint," he adds. "You have to adjust, you have to learn."

Although we may not all be rugby players, we would do well to take heed of Mr Lansonneur's words in this ever-changing and challenging world.