GERMANY – The German arm of Swiss asset manager Sarasin has recruited Marco Lenfers from a German private bank for the new position of senior advisor, institutional clients.

The appointment takes immediate effect and Lenfers will report to Frank Wettlauffer, head of Germany for Sarasin

Lenfers, 32, joins Sarasin from Trinkaus Capital Management, which is owned by UK banking giant HSBC. At Trinkaus, Lenfers was responsible for portfolio management, advising institutional clients.

“We are very pleased that Mr Lenfers is joining us, as he has the combination of skills we are looking for: experience as a portfolio manager and as an advisor to institutional clients, though in a very discreet way,” Wettlaufer told IPE from Munich.

Sarasin also said another particularly relevant qualification was Lenfers’ experience with socially responsible investing. Sarasin is one of the few European asset managers specialising in SRI and sees growing demand in Germany for this investment approach.

Since July, the German government has required the so-called deregulated Pensionskassen to disclose to what extent, if at all, they are engaged in socially responsible investing (SRI). Deregulated Pensionkassen are pension funds that compete for pensions business across all industry sectors.

The SRI disclosure requirement has applied to Pensionsfonds, or equity-oriented German pension funds, since their inception in 2002.

Wettlaufer said Sarasin’s German arm had €1.1bn in assets under management for institutional clients, including Pensionskassen, insurers, foundations and ecumenical organisations.

Basel-based Sarasin runs €37.5bn in assets for institutional clients and high net worth individuals.


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