Switzerland’s SAM loses second senior executive in two months

Zürich-based Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) has lost its second senior executive in as many months following the decision by Christian Werner, chief investment officer, to leave the company. Werner said he was departing SAM to pursue an as yet unnamed “new professional challenge”.
Werner’s decision follows hard on the heels of September’s announcement by Reto Ringger, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) that he would be stepping down after 14 years at the head of SAM. Ringger said he would be starting an as yet undisclosed project involving sustainability in financial markets.
Ringger remains as CEO and delegate of the board of directors at SAM until his termination period concludes at the end of February 2009.Stephanie Feigt, previously head of portfolio management, has been named as SAM’s new chief investment officer to replace Werner. Feigt, who joined SAM in 2006, will also replace Werner on the fund manager’s executive committee. In her new role Feigt will be in charge of both portfolio management and global research at the Swiss manager.
In December 2006, Dutch fund manager Robeco bought a 64% stake in SAM Group for a price tag believed to be in the region of SFr60-80m (€37-50m). That left 36% of the group held by SAM’s management and employees. SAM currently advises on assets of more than SFr14bn, for retail private and institutional investors and has enjoyed strong growth in recent years.