SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Feb. 13, 2025 – Aquila Capital, a leading asset manager specializing in sustainable real asset investments, today announced significant expansions to its leadership team. These strategic appointments underscore the company's commitment to accelerating growth, delivering stable returns to institutional and private clients, and driving the expansion of renewable energies and the decarbonization of global infrastructure.
New Leadership Appointments
Effective February 1, 2025, Dr. Florian Becker has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Harald Schönebeck, who transitions to a Senior Advisor position. Dr. Becker brings nearly a decade of leadership experience within the Aquila Group, having held various senior roles including Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) and General Counsel. As a long-standing member of Aquila Capital's management team, he has been instrumental in building and shaping the company since its inception. His deep understanding of Aquila Capital's business model and strategic vision uniquely positions him to lead the company's ambitious growth plans and sustainable real asset investment initiatives.
Silvia Schmitten-Walgenbach has taken on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), joining Aquila Capital in October 2024. As an experienced leader with a strong international background and over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Ms. Schmitten-Walgenbach has held leadership positions at renowned investment banks and real estate investment companies. With her extensive expertise and in-depth industry knowledge, she possesses the necessary skills to further develop the company operationally and shape a market-leading organization.
Michael Hacker assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in December 2024. With nearly 20 years of experience in various German and international leadership positions at Commerzbank, as well as a strong background in financial services consulting, Mr. Hacker brings exceptional knowledge of international finance. His expertise will play a crucial role in the further development of Aquila Capital's financial strategy.
Lars Kühne, Chief Risk Officer of the Aquila Group, has taken over the function of Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of Aquila Capital from Harald Schönebeck. Since joining the company in February 2023, he has held functional leadership responsibility for risk management and valuation at Aquila Capital. His proven abilities in this role ensure continuity and a seamless transition of responsibilities. Markus Wandt has 30 years of professional experience and, after his career in investment banking, can draw on more than 17 years of experience with investments in sustainable energy infrastructure and related sectors. Markus Wandt joined Aquila Capital in March 2022 and has been Chief Investment Officer (CIO) since 2023.
Christoph Wallrich, who heads fund management at Aquila Capital, will additionally assume the position of Head of Luxembourg.
Helge Papenhausen, Chief Compliance & Governance Officer, and Till Schulz-Eickhorst, Head of Real Estate, are leaving the executive board but will continue to hold senior positions within the company.
Strategic Ambition
Aquila Capital aims to become a leading provider of sustainable real asset investments by diversifying its investor base, scaling fund strategies, and entering new markets. To achieve this, the company is expanding its offerings beyond institutional investors to include retail and wholesale clients with products such as ELTIF funds. At the same time, it is strengthening its fund offerings by focusing on large-scale growth strategies and launching thematic funds that support innovative technologies such as battery storage solutions (BESS) and other energy transition solutions. In addition, Aquila Capital is actively exploring new opportunities in key European and global markets. The strategic partnership with Commerzbank, concluded last year, expands distribution channels and accelerates fund growth, further supporting Aquila Capital's transition to a net-zero economy.
CEO Statement
"I want to continue driving Aquila Capital's growth to achieve our goal of becoming a leading asset manager for sustainable investment strategies in Europe and beyond," said Dr. Florian Becker, CEO of Aquila Capital. "The recent appointments have further strengthened our leadership team and equipped us with the expertise and vision to develop innovative investment strategies and create long-term value for our stakeholders. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Harald Schönebeck, Helge Papenhausen and Till Schulz-Eickhorst for their outstanding contributions and exemplary commitment during our transformation phase."
About Aquila Capital
Aquila Capital is a leading asset manager specializing in sustainable real asset investments.
Since 2007, we have been offering investment opportunities with a focus on the energy transition and the expansion of sustainable infrastructure. Our goal is to generate attractive returns while supporting clean energy initiatives and contributing to the decarbonization of global infrastructure.
Aquila Capital offers tailored solutions designed to meet the needs of institutional and private clients. As a one-stop shop for equity and private debt investments, we want to make investing in sustainable real assets more accessible and simpler. We are licensed as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM).
In 2024, Aquila Capital entered into a strategic partnership with Commerzbank with the aim of becoming one of the leading asset managers for sustainable investments in Europe and beyond. The company remains an important part of the Aquila Group and leverages the group's industrial network to the advantage of its investors. Aquila Capital is headquartered in Hamburg and employs around 200 people in seven European countries.
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