Edmond de Rothschild CEO shares the key to partnership success

As a bold builder of the future, Edmond de Rothschild CEO Hervé Ordioni believes partnership success will always lie in human interaction.

"It’s one thing to build a partnership and it’s another to build a successful partnership," Hervé explained.

While the future is destined to be heavily tech-orientated as virtual meetings become more prevalent during COVID-19, it may be of detriment to building strong business relationships.

Hervé believes executives should embrace technology as a collaborative business tool rather than relying on it exclusively.

"You can only handle (partnerships) by physical relations and meeting people in person, so I strongly believe it’s very important," he said. "Of course, thanks to technology solutions you can keep on dealing with people despite a lockdown or very unprecedented event … but nothing will replace meeting people."

The private banking company’s CEO did exactly that at Sir Anthony Ritossa’s 11th Global Family Office Investment Summit hosted in Monaco late July.

At the largest gathering of global family wealth, Hervé – who is also the President of the Monaco Financial Sector Promotion Commission within the Monaco Association for Financial Activities (AMAF) – was among the world’s most elite investors sharing a mission to create a better future post-pandemic.

"(COVID-19) is an opportunity for the new world," Hervé said. "A sustainable economy for an economy which is greener."

Along with Anthony Stent-Torriani, Vice President of AMAF, the executive believes Monaco is the ideal location for influential business growth.

"It is clear that this country offers an environment that is very conducive to doing business," Anthony said. "We have the infrastructure of the banks, the asset management companies, the government – everybody’s geared towards making family offices’ lives easier."

AMAF is critical in creating an environment suitable for powerful family offices.

Representing every financial institution in Monaco, the entity works closely with the government to provide an extremely secure domain to ensure optimal quality for the corporations residing in the country.

"Whether it’s a bank or asset management company … the role or mission of AMAF is to be in relation with public authorities when it comes to adopting new loads or adapting the best practices," Hervé said at the esteemed summit. "We cannot be isolated, so we have to take into account the world around us and, of course, we have to implement any new regulation to be able to develop the best international standard.

"AMAF is essential so that our business remains at the top level, and we have to provide, indeed, world-class services to our clients who are very international."

Informing members, assisting family offices, assessing regulations and discussing with stakeholders puts AMAF at the heart of financial action, making for a structured and organised entity.

Whether principals relocate to the European nation or grow up in the principality, Monaco provides a flawless family office region due to intricate regulation that is compliant with the needs of investors.

"We intervene at any moment to try and accelerate (regulations), whether that’s employment law or local laws in different areas," Anthony explained. "As far as I’m concerned, there’s not many better places on the planet that you could install a family office or multiple family offices."

For Hervé, his adoration of the nation is obvious.

"I came here 25 years ago for a two-year contract and I’m still here," he said. "Once you test it, you like it."

Despite being a country free of external debt as well as one of the wealthiest in the world, Monaco is feeling the effects of coronavirus while facing its own related challenges.

"We have the means to invest and protect the economy of the principality, but we cannot avoid looking at what’s happening around Europe and the world," Hervé said. "The global economy is facing huge challenges. We know some industrial companies may be facing difficulties; some of them may have to adapt to survive, some will fail."

As for what the next 12 months will bring, AMAF executives believe the nation is well positioned to face difficult times.

"I’m cautious but I’m optimistic. Monaco has always been able to come out of such crises even stronger," Hervé said.