On 1 July 2024, will hand over his position as CEO of Kneip to . It’s a new chapter for the company specialising in fund data management. Sacau--who was recruited in July 2020 to modernise the company and finalise its , a sale that had been negotiated for many months by former board chair --will take up a new position in London “to pursue a new opportunity.”
Sacau will leave with the satisfaction of a job well done. Asked about his personal assessment of this adventure, which has lasted four years, he confides that the position of CEO “has been the best job I’ve ever had, both professionally and on a human level. I’ve learnt more at Kneip than in any of my previous experiences, and I’ve never had such an osmosis with my teams as I’ve had here. A third of the people recruited to work at Kneip were recommended by people already here. It’s incredible. It’s a statistic that makes me proud.”
Among the highlights of his career, Sacau cites the company’s technological transformation and the sale to Deutsche Börse. And if he had to mention one regret, it would be that “I didn’t have the time to develop the company in the Asian market.”
A better understanding of customer expectations
“This will be a task for the next CEO,” he continues--a CEO he put forward for the job.
Why was Elisa Alonso Sanz the perfect candidate?
“At Kneip we have the best technology on the market and a lot of regulatory knowledge in-house. What we need now is a deeper and more detailed understanding of our customers’ needs. And that’s where Elisa Alonso Sanz was the best possible candidate. We didn’t recruit her from one of our competitors; she comes from the world of customers. That’s very important to me. It makes all the difference. What’s more, she's an exceptional woman who’s much appreciated in the marketplace.”
Alonso Sanz is currently chief operating officer of ABN Amro Investment Solutions (AAIS). “Previously, she held various senior positions in general management and risk management at renowned international companies, including State Street, Nomura and BNP Paribas. She has experience in asset servicing, asset management and private banking and has advised major banks and asset managers on risk management in Europe and the Middle East. During her career, she has also held positions as administrator of investment funds and specialised vehicles. She holds a master’s degree from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, an MBA from UBI Business School and recently completed the International Directors Programme at Insead Business School,” reads the press release issued by Kneip.
New post on 1 July
Philippe Seyll, chairman of Kneip’s board of directors, is also happy about Alonso Sanz’s appointment. “We are delighted to welcome Elisa Alonso Sanz as Kneip’s new CEO. Elisa is the ideal person to lead Kneip into its next phase of growth, as she brings a wealth of experience on the customer side and really understands what our market wants. I would also like to thank Enrique for his leadership and dedication over the past four years. During his tenure, he has transformed Kneip into a market leader in fund data management while revitalising the company's culture, and we will remember him fondly,” he comments.
As for Alonso Sanz, she says she is “delighted” to be joining the company. “Kneip has a long-standing reputation as a trusted partner and technology leader within the funds industry. Building on Enrique’s excellent work over the past few years, I look forward to working with our outstanding teams at Kneip and Clearstream Fund Services, supporting our clients and realising our growth opportunities.”
Alonso Sanz will take up her new position on 1 July.
This article was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.
Updated 11 April at 8am to correct Hugues Delcourt’s title