Olivier Lebleu, CFA is Senior Adviser at Edelman Smithfield, the financial services arm of the world's largest communications firm, Edelman. He lives and works in London.

Olivier has over 30 years of professional experience in financial services including roles in fund management, investor relations and investment education.   He started his career advising European issuers on their US investor relations strategy at Taylor Rafferty in New York.  Olivier then spent over ten years at MFS Investment Management in variety of investment, and business leadership roles., in both Boston and London.   Olivier was the portfolio coordinator of the MFS European Equity strategy from 2002 to 2006.   ​He also served as Chief Executive of MFS International (U.K.) Limited from 2005 to 2008.

From 2012 to 2019, Olivier led the international business of Brightsphere, an NYSE-listed multi-affiliate investment firm with in excess of USD200 billion in AUM.  At Brightsphere Olivier established and led the firm-wide ESG steering committee.​

Prior to Edelman Smithfield, Olivier was a Senior Director at the CFA Institute in London, where he helped launch the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing and worked on the curriculum development for the CFA UK Climate and Investing Certificate.​

Olivier is a non-executive board member of City So5 Soccer, Inc., the leading indoor soccer facility business in the USA, and of Sustineri Global GmbH, a global equity fund manager in Vienna, Austria.  He also serves as a Senior Adviser to FCLTGlobal, a Boston-based not-for-profit think tank which performs research on capital market issues and on the investment horizon of asset owners, asset managers and corporates.

Olivier graduated from Columbia University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Why is corporate culture becoming more important as a strategic focus?

The asset management industry is undergoing massive change and the need to identify the cultural attributes that make firms successful over the long-term is greater than ever.

In your view, why is it important to set a higher standard of stewardship and behaviour within the investment industry?

The investment industry should see itself and be seen as a profession, like medicine or architecture, rather than as a lucrative hobby. This is the way stakeholders will recognise the value of investment firms beyond short term performance and marketing promotions.

Why did you decide to sit on the ACT Global Leadership Council and what does it mean to you personally?

I am inspired by the way ACT has rapidly been able to act as a change agent for an industry that has historically been reluctant to engage on these issues; I would like to see ACT thrive and reach more markets.