Asset manager Nuveen has promoted Romina Smith (pictured) to the role of head of continental Europe within its global client group.
The firm said that it had created this role to meet the growing business in the region. Christoffer Hedberg, who is responsible for northern Europe, and Sergio Trezzi, who leads southern Europe, will report to Smith going forward. She will remain in Frankfurt and still report to Simon England-Brammer, head of Emea and Apac global client group at Nuveen.
England-Brammer said: “To continue our growth, we want to continue to improve the customer experience and attract new customers. We want to leverage the full capabilities and potential of Nuveen’s strong and diverse asset management capabilities. Leadership and talent development are critical to our organic growth in international markets.”
He added: “Romina has built a strong team in central Europe. Her leadership and positive engagement with colleagues within the global client group and Nuveen as a whole, puts her in a great position for continued success.”
Smith joined Nuveen in 2016. Two years later, she took charge of growing the central European business and gradually expanding the solutions offering for investors in the region. In 2020, Smith was appointed head of central Europe within the global client group and has since been responsible for the business in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In 2021, Smith also joined the management team of Nuveen’s German office, based in Frankfurt. Nuveen has now had an office in Germany for 20 years. In 2022, the investment manager opened a location in Zurich. As a result, Nuveen now has 17 locations in Europe.
This news comes only weeks after Nuveen Real Estate launched what it calls its ‘first dedicated pan-European diversified value add strategy’.
The firm said that it has already secured around €180m in initial commitments. A Danish institutional investor and Nuveen’s parent company, TIAA, committed around €50m each while a further amount of around €75m was committed by Danish pension fund Sampension, taking the strategy over halfway towards its capital raise target of €300m, which it will continue fundraising for during 2023.
