Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI) has named Michael Heldmann as chief investment officer (CIO) systematic equity in August, taking over from co-CIOs Benedikt Henne and Klaus Teloeken, who will retire over the course of 2022.

Mr Heldmann has been part of the systematic equity team since joining AllianzGI in 2007. He initially managed the best styles emerging markets and best styles Europe equity products. For the past six years, he has established and led the US operations of the team. 

Prior to joining Allianz, he worked for the international laboratory CERN, Geneva, Switzerland as a researcher in the field of particle physics.

In his new position, he will be based in Frankfurt and report to Virginie Maisonneuve, global CIO equity.

Commenting on the appointment, Ms Maisonneuve said: “Michael has played an instrumental role in the team’s growing use of Artificial Intelligence based technologies and signals, as well as leading AllianzGI’s factor research in the US. Having led the implementation of the Genie platform, AllianzGI’s proprietary equity portfolio decision support system, he will play a crucial role in developing our client offering in Systematic Equity at AllianzGI.”

Michael will continue to manage portfolios in his role as CIO, and will relinquish the management of the US focused strategies to Rohit Ramesh, who currently acts as deputy PM for these strategies, over the course of July 2021.