We bring the “emerging” to the markets.

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Many years of experience that pays off.

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As an investment advisor specialising exclusively in exposure to developing and emerging markets, we offer specialist first-rate know-how.
Having arisen from DEG of the KFW Group, we also have access to an international network that has steadily grown over decades.
We work closely with our clients to develop individually tailored, high-yield investment strategies and portfolios.
Our in-depth knowledge of local markets and DEG’s global presence provide the best foundation for your success.

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We see where the opportunities lie in developing markets.

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Melis Demirel

Manager Syndication - Services

Melis is responsible for the Global Impact Investment Facility and has 10 years of experience in the banking industry. Before joining DEG Impact, she was responsible for national & international corporate clients as Relationship Manager and worked in Sales & Process Management at Deutsche Bank AG. Melis has a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from FOM – University of Applied Sciences Bonn.

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Hanna Genzmer

Senior Manager - Services

Hanna Genzmer is responsible for the Impact & Services team, which predominantly provides services for Global Impact Investment Facility und AfricaConnect. Before she took over that task at DEG Impact, she headed the Portfolio Administration division of Caplantic, where she was responsible for the reporting, monitoring and cash management of the portfolio which consisted of over 400 Alternative Investment Funds. She holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Cologne and started her career with the German Federal Bank.

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Christine Gierens

Management Support

Christine Gierens supports the Head of Governance & Regulatory Affairs and the management team. Before joining DEG Impact, she worked as a sales coordinator in the service industry. Christine has a dual study program and holds a degree in commercial management from the EUFH.

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Jaques Graßmann

Analyst - Investments

Jacques Graßmann is an analyst at DEG Impact. He holds a Master’s degree in Economic Policy Consulting from the Ruhr University Bochum with a specialization in Development Economics. In his role as an analyst, he works in the areas of Alternative Investments and Technical Assistance.

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Olga Hülsmann

Senior Manager - Services

Olga coordinates the activities for the Global Impact Investment Facility and AfricaConnect. Her professional experience in finance adds up to nearly 20 years. Before joining DEG Impact she led the investment monitoring team at AXA Germany overseeing EUR 90 billion of assets. She acquired comprehensive experience in ESG and Impact investing while in charge of an international responsible investments expertise group at AXA. Olga is a holder of the CFA Certificate of ESG Investing and graduated with a degree in business administration from the Goethe-University of Frankfurt am Main.

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Rena Hufmann

Senior Analyst - Investments

Rena Hufmann is a Senior Analyst at DEG Impact, specialising in Alternative Investments and Impact Investing, and holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Finance from Maastricht University. Before joining DEG Impact, she was responsible for business development for asset managers at HSBC Germany.

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Tobias Kauer

Vice President - Investments

Tobias Kauer has more than 10 years of experience in alternative investments with a focus on private equity. Prior to joining DEG Impact, he was an Investment Director at the Cologne-based venture capital investor BitStone and a Principal at Caplantic Alternative Assets, where he invested more than €1 billion in over 40 private equity and venture capital funds for institutional investors. Tobias is a CAIA charterholder and holds a university degree in business administration from the University of Cologne.

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Thomas Klein

Managing Director

Thomas Klein has more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector – both in established markets as well as in developed and emerging countries. Before co-founding DEG Impact, he was at DEG mainly responsible for private equity & mezzanine investments in Asia and Afrika. Prior to DEG, he worked for CAM Private Equity and Deloitte in the area of transaction services / M&A. He holds a degree in business administration from the University of Cologne.

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Stefanie Klenke

Stefanie Klenke supports the management team of DEG Impact. She previously held various positions at DEG. She completed a commercial apprenticeship and later studied English at the University of Cologne and Washington University in St. Louis (USA).
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Nadine Kopp

Risk Controlling

Nadine Kopp is responsible for risk controlling. Before joining DEG Impact, she worked as an internal auditor for risk models at Norddeutsche Landesbank. Nadine studied business administration in Hanover and is currently studying mathematics at the University of Cologne.

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Anna Niedergesäss

Manager TA & E&S - Investments

Anna Niedergesäss is a specialist in environmental and social management and is responsible for the Technical Assistance Facility of the AfricaGrow fund. Before joining DEG Impact, she worked on financial and private sector development projects for GIZ and Sparkassenstiftung. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics with a focus on developing and emerging countries from Copenhagen Business School.

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Roman Nolte

Senior Manager Regulatorik

Roman Nolte is responsible for regulatory affairs and has many years of professional experience in the financial services sector. Before joining DEG Impact, he was responsible for the supervision of central financial market infrastructures at the Deutsche Bundesbank and for the supervision of money laundering prevention measures of securities trading banks and capital management companies at the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. He holds an MBA with a focus on risk management, finance and law.

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Steffen Planert

Manager - Investments

Steffen Planert is Investment Manager at DEG Impact with more than 5 years of private equity and M&A experience in emerging and developing markets. Prior to joining DEG Impact, he worked as an investment Analyst for DEG, where he worked on several transactions and was responsible for a mixed portfolio of funds & co-investments in Africa. Steffen has a Master’s degree in accounting and finance from FOM – University of Applied Sciences Essen.

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Christian Sokola

Manager - FX Solutions

Christian Sokola is responsible for currency management of the Global Impact Investment Facility and ImpactConnect. He has more than 20 years of professional experience, particularly in treasury consulting and relationship management for institutional-, large- and medium-sized corporate clients in Commerzbank’s Corporate Banking. He owes his further expertise in finance and sustainable finance to his positions as Head of Finance and Controlling at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Regional Church Office of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, for which he continues to advise on the sustainable orientation of their investments. Christian holds a business administration (VWA) degree from the Academy of Administration and Economics in Koblenz.

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Lars Zimmermann

Senior Manager - Investments

Lars Zimmermann is co-responsible for new business and portfolio management of funds and co-investments. Before joining DEG Impact, Lars worked for DEG, where he managed funds & co-investments in emerging markets with a focus on Africa. He holds a degree in business administration from the Universities of Cologne and Copenhagen.

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Advisory Board

Dr. Sandra Reich

Dr. Sandra Reich is a trained banker, holds a doctorate in law and is a proven capital market expert. Before becoming a management consultant for Sustainable Finance, she was Head of German Desk Asia-Pacific for NORD/LB in Singapore. Before that, Sandra Reich was a member of the board of BÖAG Börsen AG, Hamburg and Hanover, and managing director of the Hamburg Stock Exchange and the Hanover Stock Exchange. She is a member of the supervisory and advisory boards of various companies.

Christoph Evard

Christoph Evard is a Partner and Executive Director at ROCKSTONE Real Estate, an international project developer and investor in residential and commercial real estate. Previously, he was a Partner at Kibo Capital Partners for ten years, a private equity fund manager focused on growth investments in Sub-Saharan Africa. Before joining Kibo in 2014, Christoph was Vice President at DEG/KfW Group, where he structured and managed equity and mezzanine investments across Africa and emerging markets. He previously worked in Corporate Finance for Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan, where he held several positions. In 2001, Christoph co-founded Vistage Germany, a business in the services industry, working closely with CEOs of mid-sized corporations. He holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University, USA, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Basel, Switzerland.

Bruno Wenn

Bruno Wenn was Chairman of the Management Board of DEG, a subsidiary of KfW Bankengruppe, from October 2009 till his retirement in June 2018. He has worked for KfW Development Bank since 1982 in various management positions.
In his last position, he was responsible for the Regional Division of Sub-Saharan Africa. After graduating from the University of Bonn in 1981 with a degree in economics, he did a post-graduate training program in development economics at the German Development Institute, Berlin, in 1981/1982.
Bruno Wenn is an Honorary Member of the German Africa Business Association, Hamburg/Berlin, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the German Africa Foundation, Berlin, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Welthungerhilfe, Bonn, Member of the Strategic Advisors Group to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) of IFC/MIGA, Washington, Member of Advisors D+C Development and Cooperation, Frankfurt, and Member of the Boards of various cultural institutions in Cologne.

Carsten Jorgensen

Carsten Jorgensen is a seasoned international executive and investment specialist with 25 years of experience. He has a remarkable track record of making judicious investments in different asset classes, guided by his comprehensive understanding of investment risk and a steadfast commitment to achieving high returns adjusted for risk.
Following a career within global markets and banking, Carsten has held executive roles at IKEA, IKANO and the Mittal Family Investment Office. Carsten is also highly active as a Board and Investment Committee Member. He is Chairman of ACML, Special Advisor for UNICEF, Board Member of Trustees Hand in Hand International, Chair of the Investment Committee at Max Matthiessen and serves on the Board of Directors at Lind Foundation, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience to these positions.

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