He never gives interviews, but there isn’t a financial journalist on the planet who wouldn’t like an hour with Jean Paul Villain. The strategic mastermind behind the spending of the world’s second-largest SWF ADIA, Villain is believed to control an asset pile worth $500bn to $700bn.
Born in 1946, Villain was educated in Paris in politics, economics and sciences (applied mathematics). After a brief period as assistant professor in finance at Paris University, he joined Banque Paribas in 1971 moving progressively from portfolio manager to head of investments in the asset management department.
In 1982 Villain joined the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) as regional manager for Europe, before being appointed senior fund manager for all financial assets.
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