Frankfurt am Main, June 25 2020

Universal Investment Group expands management team - Ian Lees joins as new CFO

Ian Lees joins the Universal-Investment Group and assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. In particular, he takes over the areas of Finance, Risk and Corporate Development from Frank Eggloff, who, as Chief Regulatory Officer, will in future focus primarily on Group Governance with Legal, Compliance and Internal Audit. "We are delighted to have won Ian Lees, a top financial director, who will help us to advance the internationalization of our business with his many years of experience and deep knowledge of the German market," said CEO Michael Reinhard, welcoming the new addition.

"With the expansion of the C-Board, we are taking into account the significantly increased importance of finance and regulatory developments in recent years, as well as the international expansion of the Group as a whole. In his previous role as CFO, Frank Eggloff has played a central role in the success story of Universal-Investment. In his new function, his commitment and motivational power will make a significant contribution to our goal of becoming the leading European fund service platform for all asset classes. Frank hands over rock-solid figures – despite the Corona pandemic", said Michael Reinhard thanking Eggloff for his commitment so far.

Ian Lees joins the Group coming from VR Smart Finanz, the mid-market financier of German bank Geno Group, where he had been CFO and member of the board since 2012. In his previous career he held CFO functions at SEB Bank Deutschland and General Electric Capital. The internationally experienced, UK-born manager started his career at Ford Motor Company. Lees studied economics at York University and holds an MBA from Warwick University.

Internationally experienced manager joins from VR Smart Finanz to fund service platform

Former CFO Frank Eggloff assumes new role as Chief Regulatory Officer

Universal-Investment on course for growth despite corona pandemic

The Universal-Investment Group has been on a strong growth course for many years. In the past three years, the assets under management have increased from EUR 312 billion to currently EUR 516 billion. Even the market turbulence triggered by the Corona pandemic did not change this. In the current financial year, which began on 1 October 2019, assets under management rose by around 39 billion or around eight per cent by the end of May. "Our business model is proving to be sustainable even in turbulent times like the current corona pandemic. Particularly solutions for illiquid assets such as real estate or alternative investments stabilize volumes. In addition, institutional investors are increasingly demanding our risk management expertise, for example for overlay management solutions," said Reinhard.