This week’s overview of transfers and appointments in the fund and asset management community in and outside Luxembourg includes updates from Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, Zedra and HSBC.
Melinda Käsdorf
Melinda Käsdorf has been appointed head of marketing for private markets at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, effective October 23. Based in Paris, Käsdorf will report to Rupert Pybus, global head of marketing and products, and will be responsible for developing a marketing strategy for the firm’s private markets franchise, which manages 21.8 billion euro in assets.
In her new role, Käsdorf will lead marketing initiatives across Edmond de Rothschild’s private markets investment platforms, including private equity, real estate investment management, and infrastructure debt. She will work closely with sales teams, fund management, and communications teams to support the firm’s growth in the illiquid assets space, and will collaborate with product experts and strategic partners to drive fundraising efforts.
Käsdorf brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and financial analysis. She previously served as marketing director at BlackRock for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and held roles at La Française Group, AXA Real Assets, and Access Capital Partners. She holds a Master’s degree in European Business from ESCP-EAP and a law degree from the University of Passau and King’s College London.
Peter Brown
Peter Brown has been appointed managing director of Zedra’s Luxembourg office. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services sector, Brown will oversee Zedra’s operations in Luxembourg, focusing on expanding services for the firm’s funds, corporate, and private clients. He will work closely with Wim Ritz, Zedra’s global head of funds, to drive business growth and enhance service delivery in Luxembourg.
Brown joins Zedra from a leading fund and corporate services provider, where he spent the last four years focusing on institutionally-backed alternative fund managers in Luxembourg. His previous roles include senior positions in banking across the UK and Europe, where he provided structured lending, cash management, and capital markets services to institutional clients.
Dean Blackburn, Zedra’s deputy CEO, noted that Brown’s experience in fund administration and his ability to drive performance will support the firm’s growth objectives. Ritz added that Brown’s expertise in alternative funds will play a key role in expanding Zedra’s presence in the region.
Pam Kaur
HSBC Holdings Plc has appointed Pam Kaur as its first female chief financial officer, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s 150-year history. Kaur, aged 60, brings nearly four decades of experience focused on auditing, risks, and compliance, having worked at several global financial institutions. She joined HSBC in April 2013 as head of internal audit, shortly after the bank faced anti-money laundering and sanctions violations and entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the US Justice Department.
Kaur, a graduate of Punjab University in India, steps into her new role at a challenging time for the bank, with falling interest rates and geopolitical tensions in key markets, including China and Hong Kong. Her appointment comes as HSBC undergoes a broad restructuring, led by newly appointed chief executive officer Georges Elhedery, who has introduced ambitious cost-cutting measures across various business lines and regions.
Investment Officer publishes an overview of key appointments in the financial sector in and around Luxembourg every week. Send your announcements via email to editor@investmentofficer.lu.