Universal Investment appoints new CEO 18 February 2019Frankfurt Reporter: Jenna Lomax
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The Frankfurt investment firm, Universal-Investment, has appointed Michael Reinhard as its new CEO.
Reinhard, who was previously the firm’s COO, replaces Bernd Vorbeck who is to move to the firm’s supervisory board.
Vorbeck has been working at Universal-Investment since 1989. He served as a member of Universal Investment’s management board and was CEO from 2007 to 2019.
Reinhard has been COO and managing director of Universal-Investment and its IT subsidiary since 2018.
Before joining Universal-Investment, Reinhard served in various roles at the AXA Group, where he most recently served as global head of operations at AXA Investment Managers in Paris.
Katja Müller, currently a member of the management board and head of sales and relationship management, is taking over the newly created post of chief customer officer.
Müller has served at Universal-Investment since 2014. In 2015, she took over as head of the newly created sales and relationship management division. Since 2017 she has also been a member of Universal Investment’s management board.
The position of COO is yet to be filled.
Reinhard said: "Our goal is for Universal-Investment to administer more than 500 billion euros by 2023 and evolve into the largest fund service platform for all asset classes in Europe. To achieve this, the investment company is stepping up its investments in internationalisation, employees and technologies.”
He added: “Our goal is, as an innovation leader, is to advance digitalisation in the fund industry and continue offering clients excellent service in the future.”
Vorbeck commented: "I am proud that I was able to accompany Universal-Investment and the dedicated people who contributed to this success, and to have played an active role in shaping the company’s transformation into the top infrastructure platform for the fund industry.”
He added: “In the last two years, we have successfully laid the foundations for Universal-Investment’s future development, and this is now an opportune time to usher in a new generation in management.”
“With Michael Reinhard, we have found an acknowledged industry expert whose extensive know-how and international experience will deliver important stimulus for consistently developing Universal-Investment. As a member of the supervisory board, I am delighted to be able to continue working closely with him.”
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