John Porter, Axa Investment Managers’ global head of fixed income, describes himself as an “outsider” – an American at one of the world’s biggest French asset managers, a banker gone to the buyside and a business strategist with the freedom to speak his mind because, at 61, he is “not looking to move up in the organisation”.

Porter was brought in 18 months ago to re-examine the way Axa IM runs its €384 billion fixed income division - and in the past year he has been busy. His mission is now to take the new-look proposition to market - targeting insurance firms and pension funds in Europe, the UK and Japan, in particular, in line with his chief executive's priorities.