Frankfurt am Main, April 12 2018

New Head of Sales International: Marcus Kuntz joins Universal-Investment from State Street to drive international expansion strategy

The Master KVG Universal-Investment has taken on Marcus Kuntz as Head of Sales International. His main task will be to gain international asset managers from the whole of Europe, particularly for the successful Luxembourg fund platform as well as for innovative client solutions in the field of back office and middle office outsourcing. Kuntz will set up a new team for this in Luxembourg and Frankfurt. Two colleagues have already been taken on board.

Besides offering solutions for traditional asset classes, the international sales team will place a strong focus on clients and fund partners in the growth segment Alternative and Real Assets. Universal-Investment has succeeded once again in expanding its portfolio of international fund partners with mandates of the Finnish emerging market specialist Aktia, the British credit specialist Stratton Street Capital and the Danish bond specialist Absalon Capital.

Marcus Kuntz can look back on more than 18 years' experience in Securities Services Sales and Relationship Management, most of which he gained in various management positions at State Street Bank in Frankfurt am Main and Zurich. He started his career at Deutsche Bank in the Global Custody Services field and, after this division was taken over by State Street, played a decisive role in driving the successful expansion of State Street in Germany and Continental Europe. His last positions were as Head of Asset Manager Solutions Continental Europe and Head of Sales Switzerland.

Katja Müller, Managing Director of Universal-Investment, welcomes the newcomer to the company: "Our goal is to become Europe's largest fund service platform – for all asset classes. Backed by his extensive experience and outstanding distribution network, Marcus Kuntz will make a key contribution towards achieving this target."

Universal-Investment on course for strong growth

As market leader for Master KVGs and private label funds, Universal-Investment has succeeded in raising the volume of its administered funds in past years. With net inflows of EUR 46 billion, the investment company made it to top of the league in 2017. Founded in 1968, the company is one of Germany's three largest investment companies, administering funds with a total volume of EUR 355 billion at year-end 2017. The main contributions to this strong growth come from the business in real estate and real assets structurings as well as from the launch and administration of classic securities funds.