Fisch Asset Management AG,
T +41 44 284 24 24
info@fam.ch
Fisch Asset Management, the largest independent Swiss asset manager for convertible bonds, corporate bonds and multi-asset solutions, is expanding its Executive Committee with the appointment of a number of highly regarded investment specialists. Through the representation of the business’ strategic growth areas on the Executive Committee, as well as the introduction of a long-term partner model for succession planning, Fisch Asset Management is laying the foundations for continued success. At CHF 11.6 billion (EUR 11.2bn) at year-end, client assets under management remained almost unchanged compared to the previous year.
Expansion of Executive Committee
In line with the company’s consistent focus on its key strategic growth areas, the heads of the four investment segments – Convertible Bonds, Emerging Markets Bonds, Developed Markets Bonds and Multi Asset/Absolute Return – will join the Executive Committee as of 1 March 2022. The new members will be Kyle Kloc (Head Corporate Bonds Developed Markets), Thomas Rutz (Head Corporate Bonds Emerging Markets), Dr Torsten von Bartenwerffer (Co-Head Multi Asset/Absolute Return) and Stephanie Zwick (Head Convertible Bonds). Meno Stroemer, who has successfully led the Portfolio Management team for the past two years, has decided to return to the US later in the year for personal reasons, but will continue to support Fisch’s Emerging Markets Bond team.
Fisch’s four key business divisions are already represented on the Executive Committee: Sales & Relationship Management (Hanspeter Diem), Technology (Vladimir Khmyrov), Corporate Centre (Juerg Sturzenegger) and Products. Angela Eder, current Head Products, has decided to leave the company in Q2 after 16 successful years with Fisch. The division will be taken over by Christoph Feusi, who will also be part of the Executive Committee and joins the business from Vontobel Asset Management AG where he was Head Global Client Excellence and a member of their executive board.
Juerg Sturzenegger, CEO of Fisch Asset Management, said: “Expanding the Executive Committee will enable us to achieve broader support for our growth initiatives and greater agility in implementing our strategic goals. Our flat hierarchies and short decision-making channels have been a hallmark of Fisch’s culture since the company was founded.”
Long-term succession planning
Fisch Asset Management has also introduced a new partner model to establish a sustainable and forward-looking structure to facilitate the transition to the business’ next chapter. This will enable the founders and current majority shareholders Kurt Fisch and Dr Pius Fisch to ensure that Fisch will continue to be managed in line with their vision, even when they are no longer actively involved in the company. The partner model is based on the conviction that, for a company to be successful, the people with operational responsibility must have a say in its strategic development and the corporate structure must be designed in a way that ensures everyone is working towards the same goal. Operational partners and employees are able to participate in the company’s long-term success through profit-sharing and equity ownership. Kurt and Pius Fisch currently remain with the company as anchor shareholders and members of the Board of Directors. Chairman of the Board, Dr Pius Fisch, commented: “I am delighted that with this forward-looking solution we can ensure that Fisch will continue to be a successful, independent company for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Assets under management remain stable
At CHF 11.6 billion (EUR 11.2bn), client assets under management remained almost unchanged compared to the previous year. The significant increase in assets in the first half of the year was offset by market-related declines during the following six months. While the market environment remains challenging, Fisch Asset Management remains confident about its future thanks to a shareholder base focused on the long term and a management team strengthened with further investment expertise.