Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI), one of the world’s leading active investment managers, announced today that Michael Krautzberger will become CIO Public Markets and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Krautzberger, currently Global CIO Fixed Income, will take on his additional responsibilities for AllianzGI’s EUR 475bn Public Markets platform from 1 June 2025. The appointment is part of the succession plan for Deborah Zurkow, Global Head of Investments, who it has been announced will retire later this year.
Additional promotions of experienced investors within AllianzGI’s Equity and Fixed Income divisions will further bolster the leadership team in AllianzGI’s Public Markets business, which also includes a Multi Asset franchise and risklab investment advisory offering.
In light of Michael’s broadening responsibilities, Jenny Zeng, currently CIO Fixed Income Asia Pacific, will become CIO Fixed Income from 1 January 2026. To ensure a smooth journey, Jenny will take on the additional role of deputy head of the Fixed Income platform with immediate effect.
In Equities, Michael Heldmann will become CIO Equity on 1 October 2025, succeeding Virginie Maisonneuve who has decided to leave AllianzGI at the end of December 2025. Virginie and Michael have already been working closely which will ensure a seamless transition. As part of that long term succession planning, Michael Heldmann, will become Deputy CIO Equity with immediate effect alongside his existing responsibilities as CIO Systematic Equity.
Tobias Pross, CEO of AllianzGI, said:
“Today’s succession appointments underscore one of Allianz Global Investors’ core strengths: it is an attractive home for investment talent. As pleasing as it is to hire great investors, it is even more rewarding to see them flourish and grow. Michael Krautzberger, Jenny Zeng and Michael Heldmann have each developed impressive reputations in cultivating teamwork, managing clients’ money and representing their investment ideas and processes to our clients across the world. All of this augurs well for the future of our Public Markets franchise. And while we will have the benefit of Virginie’s input for some months still, I would like to take the opportunity to thank her for championing the development of AI tools, fostering increased collaboration and bringing on board a number of new capabilities within Equities during her past four years with the firm.”
