Michael Reinhard has unexpectedly stepped down from his position as CEO of Universal Investment Group “to seek new challenges”. David Blumer, who has been non-executive chairman of the investment board of Universal Investment Group for over a year, is to take on the role of executive chairman until a new CEO is appointed. Blumer has substantial experience in the fund industry gained in former roles as former head of EMEA at BlackRock, CIO at Swiss Re and CEO of Credit Suisse Asset Management. Heiko Laubheimer will assume the role of CFO as of 1 June. Laubheimer joins from G+E GETEC Holding, where he most recently held the role of interim CEO in addition to his role as group CFO.
Reinhard joined in 2018 as COO and became CEO in 2019. He had previously worked at AXA Investment Managers, latterly as global head of operations. Under his leadership, the company developed its international footprint and has grown from EUR400bn AuM to almost EUR1trn. This included the acquisitions of Metzler Ireland and European Fund Administration (now efa). He also played a key role in bringing in Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as new a new investor alongside Montagu.