Finance
BNP Paribas to cut 20% of workforce at AM unit, source says
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
BNP Paribas plans to cut 20% of its asset management workforce by 2027, following its acquisition of AXA IM, aiming for significant cost synergies.
BNP Paribas Plans to Reduce Asset Management Workforce by 20%
BNP Paribas Asset Management Restructuring Plan
By Mathieu Rosemain and Mathias de Rozario
Details of Job Reductions
PARIS, Jan 22 - BNP Paribas plans to cut around 1,200 jobs at its asset management unit by the end of 2027, or about 20% of the division’s workforce, as part of cost-cutting measures following its 5.1 billion-euro acquisition of AXA Investment Managers, a union source told Reuters on Thursday.
Impact on Employees
The French bank announced a voluntary departure plan during a works council meeting earlier on Thursday, with the job reductions to be implemented in three waves starting in mid-2026, the source said.
Financial Goals from Restructuring
About 600 positions will be affected in France, the source said, adding that about 230 new jobs would also be created in the country as part of the plan.
French daily Les Echos was first to report the news.
In a statement to Reuters, BNP Paribas AM said it would start talks with employee representatives about its so-called "target organisational model" following the legal merger of entities and the creation of a unified asset management structure. It did not elaborate on the number of jobs that could be affected.
The restructuring aims to eliminate duplicate roles in both support functions, such as human resources and legal departments, as well as in investment management operations, the source said. The union source said the figures could still change, with talks due to start early next month.
The bank is targeting 550 million euros in revenue and cost synergies from the AXA IM integration by 2029, it said in October.
The BNP Paribas AM-AXA IM merger created Europe’s third-largest asset manager, with 1.6 trillion euros ($1.88 trillion) in assets under management, behind only Amundi and UBS Asset Management.
($1 = 0.8515 euros)
(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain and Mathias de Rozario in Gdansk, Editing by Louise Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •BNP Paribas to cut 1,200 jobs in asset management.
- •Restructuring follows AXA IM acquisition.
- •Job cuts to occur in three waves starting 2026.
- •600 positions affected in France, 230 new jobs created.
- •Targeting 550 million euros in synergies by 2029.
Frequently Asked Questions about BNP Paribas to cut 20% of workforce at AM unit, source says
1What is asset management?
Asset management is the process of developing, operating, maintaining, and selling assets in a cost-effective manner. It involves managing investments on behalf of clients to achieve specific financial goals.
2What is restructuring?
Restructuring refers to the process of reorganizing a company's structure, operations, or finances to improve efficiency and profitability, often involving job reductions or changes in management.
3What are financial goals?
Financial goals are specific objectives that individuals or organizations aim to achieve with their finances, such as saving for retirement, purchasing a home, or increasing investment returns.
4What is cost-cutting?
Cost-cutting involves reducing expenses to improve profitability. This can include layoffs, reducing operational costs, or finding more efficient ways to conduct business.
