Amundi has created a dedicated role running its $9 billion smart beta division, a move that Europe’s biggest asset manager said underscored its commitment to the increasingly popular asset class.

Amundi, which manages about €1 trillion, confirmed in a statement on September 5 that it had hired Bruno Taillardat to oversee the growth of its smart beta strategies. He will be based in Paris and report to Laurent Trottier, global head of exchange-traded funds, indexing and smart beta management.