Goldman Sachs
When opportunity knocks
23 June 2026
Thomas Duchemin, securities lending trader, agency lending at Goldman Sachs, speaks to Carmella Haswell about his time in European equities and the significance of human interaction
Image: Thomas Duchemin
Can you tell me about your journey into the securities finance industry?
Before joining Goldman Sachs, I worked at Credit Agricole on the treasury desk, where my focus was on covering the bank鈥檚 short-term funding needs. During that time, I developed a strong interest in the repo market, while also aspiring to gain exposure to equities. That opportunity materialised in 2021 when I joined Goldman Sachs Agency Lending in Paris.
I started by covering APAC equities for approximately a year, which gave me the equity exposure I was looking for. Since then, I have covered the fixed income book, and for the last four years my focus has been European equities.
As a young professional, what aspects of your role or the industry do you find most exciting?
One of the most compelling aspects of my role is to be able to cover all European equity markets. This means there is rarely a day when there is not an interesting development in one of the markets I cover, be it corporate news or new names in demand. After covering this book for the last few years, I now have a better understanding of all markets and clients, which allows me to now spend more time on analysis and enhancements.
From an internal perspective, being part of Goldman Sachs means being able to engage with highly talented people who work in a variety of asset classes. Given the relatively smaller size of the Paris office, it is also easier to create relationships with colleagues across the Global Banking and Markets division and learn about what they do daily.
Many companies offer various training and development opportunities for their employees. How has your company supported your growth?
Goldman Sachs offers a broad range of career and personal development opportunities. On top of online courses, graduate/analyst training programmes, and one-on-one mentorship, there are often roundtables organised with senior leadership which give employees the chance to ask questions and engage in discussions.
Within my team, I have been lucky to be given the chance to cover multiple asset classes, different markets, be part of client presentations, and take the lead on projects that all contributed to improving my skillset.
What misconceptions about working in the financial industry have you encountered, and how do you address these challenges?
A common misconception is that market finance now requires little to no human interaction or soft skills. In my experience, banking is still very much a service industry, which means a lot of communication and relationship management. Whether it is with clients, colleagues, or counterparts, most roles still rely heavily on trust and interaction.
To address this, I think it is important to remind graduates and new hires that technical skills alone are not enough. Building relationships and engaging with people 鈥� both formally and informally 鈥� is key to succeeding in the industry.
What advice do you have for other young professionals aspiring to pursue a career in your industry?
Be curious. Read as much as you can and ask questions whenever you get the chance. The industry is so broad and complex that it is really the only way to figure out what you enjoy and where you want to focus.
At the same time, make yourself available to others. If people around you need help or have questions, take the time to engage 鈥� those day-to-day interactions are often how you learn the most and build your network.
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in the next five years in terms of your career goals and aspirations?
Having covered both fixed income and equities for several years now, I would like to continue building on that experience and deepen my expertise within the securities finance space. In particular, I am interested in contributing to the growth of the agency lending business in Europe, especially as regulation and technology continue to evolve and create opportunities to expand into new markets and develop new products to better serve clients.
More broadly, I see myself continuing to grow within the platform 鈥� developing my skillset, taking on more responsibility, and working closely with different teams, including sales, to help expand our client base across the region.
