Expansion of Hamilton Lane's Frankfurt branch announced
In a strategic move to expand its footprint in Europe, U.S. asset manager Hamilton Lane has announced the hiring of Sebastian Schu as Managing Director and Head of Germany and Austria for its Client Solutions team. Schu, who brings over two decades of experience in asset management, joins Hamilton Lane from J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Schu's new role at Hamilton Lane will see him overseeing the regions of Germany and Austria, reporting directly to Ralph Aerni, who heads the European, Middle Eastern, and African business at Hamilton Lane. This appointment is part of a broader regional expansion for the company, which includes relocating to a larger office in Frankfurt with double the previous capacity, and growing the local team from just one full-time employee in 2021 to eight by 2025.
Schu's extensive experience in the industry, particularly his eight years as Head of Global Insurance Solutions for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, is expected to help Hamilton Lane attract and retain clients in these key markets. Germany was one of Hamilton Lane's top five countries for institutional fundraising in 2024, highlighting the strategic importance of this expansion.
The expansion plan focuses on broadening Hamilton Lane’s client solutions capabilities in the DACH region by leveraging Schu’s extensive experience and market knowledge to capitalize on growing demand for private markets exposure. The firm aims to serve investors more effectively while continuing to grow its footprint across Germany and Austria, as well as Switzerland more broadly.
With Schu's appointment as a Managing Director, he marks a significant addition to Hamilton Lane's executive team. This move is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Hamilton Lane to expand its global footprint and strengthen its presence in key markets.
In his new role, Schu will leverage his extensive experience in the industry to capitalize on growing demand for private markets exposure, aiming to attract and retain clients in key markets like Germany and Austria. With this appointment, Schu marks a significant addition to Hamilton Lane's executive team, furthering the firm's strategic moves to expand its global footprint and strengthen its presence in key markets, including finance and business sectors.
