Since the end of the pandemic continues the refrain about mass or silent resignations. Not everywhere, however: in banking, with 50,000 hires in 2022 it is “a record year in terms of recruitment”, indicates the French Banking Federation (January 2024) which adds that “turnover is below the national level”. Confirmation by Marion Azuelos, global HR manager of BNP Paribas Asset Management (the asset management subsidiary of the BNP Paribas group): “We are seeing a rather decreasing turnover rate: it is currently around 9%, while “it was around 11% in previous years.” Imperative for clients who want both stability of management teams and performance. “This demonstrates a certain resilience since the health crisis and our ability to retain the best.” But these figures are not due to chance.
Marion Azuelos, who supervises around 65 people in 67 countries, went through “financial professions before discovering human resources”. She has set up a team which includes experts in management, sales and support functions, where “the multicultural atmosphere makes it possible to combine the knowledge and expertise of each person with their different maturities in terms of HR subjects, whether leadership or career management. A particularity: “HR Business Partners generally have dual “field and business” expertise and come from either the HR world or asset management”. They take into account the specificities of the area they cover, with the support of two dedicated teams, one for analytics (staff monitoring and remuneration) and the other for soft skills (training, diversity, inclusion).
In terms of recruitment, in a “competitive universe”, they work “with the “staffing” platform of the BNP Paribas group for France, directly with the international but also with different channels such as headhunters, particularly for profiles specific management or those with strong responsibilities”. Furthermore, LinkedIn works for direct applications. Is this enough? “We have evolved our corporate culture to focus more on people and to respond to the challenges linked to new working methods,” responds global HR. In addition to a 50% teleworking agreement (two to three days per week), also open to managers and traders, the group is putting forward initiatives, such as “2 hours to learn” which allow each month, during their working time, to follow training on sustainable development issues, for example. For Marion Azuelos, “acquiring ESG (environmental, social and governance) skills is a priority today”. Other actions: conferences on health or sport open to all, or the participation of 800 employees around the world last year in a week of volunteering with 50 associations. “It is initiatives like this that create our difference and can convince the best profiles to come to us or to stay.”
Create the difference
Without forgetting the necessary feminization of these professions, far from the archetype of there “woman banker hidden in Switzerland” fantasized by Michel Sardou. “I am proud that we have 25% women in this management universe, when the general industry average is 12% (Citywire, “Alpha Female Report”, 2023)”. However, the global RRH recognizes that “we must work tirelessly for this equality which is progressing and we still have a lot to do”. Stay alert, renew yourself. Difficult to attract all profiles. “Like everyone, we look with interest at the concerns of new generations, their ways of understanding the increasingly digitalized world.”
People are moving, so are models and BNPP AM is trying to adapt in this world where there is no longer an ideal career: “A majority of employees remain faithful to their expertise, but we also observe profiles who leave, come back , are moving towards other professions within the BNP Paribas group.” Its latest weapon: “emotional intelligence, which contributes to better performance and the commitment and retention of our employees”. Objective: improve it in order to “become better asset managers, stand out from the competition and inspire a positive and dynamic corporate culture”. Good news for Marion Azuelos: 92% of BNPP AM employees believe that it is “a major asset” (IAMsharing Survey, annual internal survey). Bankable.
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