True to form, we’re conducting a retrospective of the previous year in the new year’s first edition of the CACEIS News. Following on from the many unparalleled events of 2020, 2021 was just as densely packed, filled with glimmers of hope in the form of vaccines and disappointment as variants emerged.
We often had to adapt our working practices, demonstrating flexibility by complying with the varied measures announced by national governments. Combining face-to-face and remote work has ensured continuity of our services as well as client proximity, all while processing a high volume of transactions.
2021 also saw the launch of Turbo, CACEIS’ transformation and development plan scheduled over a 3-year horizon. Turbo will enable us to improve the client experience through more robust processes and less manual intervention. It will also increase the efficiency and simplicity of our organisation while favouring expertise, by giving our staff a more autonomous framework in which to act.
Our policy is to provide innovative services and raise CACEIS’ business agility while promoting client proximity and improving overall satisfaction levels. To achieve this, we have accelerated digitisation of client interactions in 2021, from digital account opening and electronic contract signatures, to satisfaction assessments using our digital "Leading by Client Satisfaction" survey.
With all these initiatives underway, we also completed major operational projects, such as the migration of all former KAS BANK clients in the Netherlands to CACEIS, representing over €200bn of assets for several hundred clients. We also achieved strong new business wins throughout our international network.
Regarding climate change and the transformation of our world, in 2021, CACEIS raised its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and launched a working group, known as the "Sustainability Centre", composed of worldwide staff representing every business line. The working group is designed to guide CACEIS' energy transition, encourage CSR development, meet the growing expectations of the European regulator, and accelerate the development of products linked to our ESG offer. As a leading asset servicing player, our strategy is to be a responsible and sustainable company, ensuring we act as a trusted third party for our clients by playing a role in their own ESG strategy. This initiative makes CACEIS part of the collective momentum behind the “Societal Project” initiated by Crédit Agricole, our majority shareholder. The Project, announced last December, aims at daily progress in making the world a greener, more inclusive and more sustainable place.
2022 will undoubtedly be a busy year as well, and I hope a more positive one. We will keep working towards the transformation our Group with the help of all business lines and all entities, and will continue provide expert support for our clients. And in this edition of CACEIS News, there’s lots of information on our range of tailor-made solutions for the private equity and ETF community.
In the second quarter of 2022, all CACEIS staff in France will come together in a new building called Flores, on the Crédit Agricole Campus in Montrouge. This also means CACEIS’ headquarters changes, which we like to think symbolises our new ways of working: in close partnership, with cross-company connections and in an easy-going atmosphere.
Being a responsible employer and a trusted partner, while being a sustainable company, is a core part of our group’s business policy. And I am confident that the future will be bursting with new opportunities for CACEIS and its clients.
I wish you all the best of health and peace of mind for a more positive 2022.
