This week’s overview of transfers and appointments in the fund and asset management community highlights international law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett hiring in Luxembourg to establish a presence in the Grand Duchy’s private markets community. Additionally, updates include movements within PKF Global and HDI Life Insurance.
Herbert Smith Freehills
Herbert Smith Freehills has announced the appointment of three partners to its Luxembourg office, scheduled to open in early 2025, pending approval by the Luxembourg Bar.
Joanna Pecenik Vergès d’Espagne, a funds specialist, and Marc Tkatcheff, a private capital/M&A lawyer, will join from A&O Shearman, where they currently serve as counsel.
Tax expert Jean-Dominique Morelli will join from Maples & Calder, where he is a partner. This expansion, first reported by the Financial Times on Wednesday, aligns with the firm’s strategy to enhance its private capital services and European presence.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
New York-headquartered elite law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is the second one to announce the opening of a new Luxembourg office, in the first quarter of 2025, focusing on private capital.
The firm has recruited partners Jean-Christian Six and Yannick Arbaut from A&O Shearman, and Paul Van den Abeele from Clifford Chance, to lead this initiative.
Frank Gledel
Frank Gledel has been appointed to the international board of PKF Global for a renewable three-year term. The international board, which represents 226 accounting firms worldwide, serves as the network’s highest governance body, overseeing strategic direction, member development, and risk management.
Gledel will continue in his role as president and CEO of PKF Arsilon, a leading French advisory firm and member of PKF Global since 2021. His new position reflects his ambition to strengthen PKF’s presence in French-speaking regions, including Luxembourg, Canada, and Francophone Africa.
Sven Lixenfeld
Sven Lixenfeld will step down as chairman of the board of HDI Lebensversicherung AG in Germany at the end of the year to pursue an entrepreneurial opportunity outside the Talanx Group from January 2025.
Lixenfeld, who has been in the role since 2021, announced his departure is by mutual agreement and reflects his desire to take on a new challenge. During his tenure, he oversaw the stabilisation of the company’s retirement provisions business amid fluctuating interest rates and led efforts to modernise its IT infrastructure.
Following his exit, the board of HDI Deutschland AG will be reduced from seven to six members, with Lixenfeld’s responsibilities redistributed. Holm Diez, currently responsible for the bancassurance business, will take on additional responsibilities for the operations and products of the life insurance division and will become chairman of HDI Lebensversicherung AG on 1 January 2025.
Jens Warkentin, chairman of HDI Deutschland AG, will assume responsibility for investments, while Thorsten Pauls, chief financial officer, will oversee actuarial matters. Jens Köwing, IT board member, will lead the life insurance IT division.
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.