Nadia Nikolova Taking Over as New CEO of responsAbility, Focused on Expanding Impact Investment
Nadia Nikolova, a seasoned professional in private markets and impact investing, has been appointed as the new CEO of responsAbility Investments AG, effective September 1, 2025. The Board of the Swiss-based impact investment manager made the announcement, subject to regulatory approval.
Nikolova joins responsAbility from Allianz Global Investors, where she held the position of Head of Direct Lending, managing private credit teams across Europe and Asia with over EUR 11 billion in assets under management. In this role, she established and scaled the sustainable and impact credit investment team, launching a blended finance strategy and raising over EUR 4.5 billion in capital for impact-focused investments.
At responsAbility, Nikolova will lead the firm's impact investing efforts, focusing on areas such as financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food systems. The company, a significant part of M&G's private markets strategy, is expected to enhance its expertise in these areas under Nikolova's leadership, contributing to M&G's broader goals in impact investing. She will report to Emmanuel Deblanc, CIO of private markets at M&G and chair of responsAbility.
Nikolova's appointment follows the tenure of Rochus Mommartz, who is retiring after leading responsAbility since 2016 and serving for over 20 years. Mommartz's leadership saw the company expand into new impact themes, double its assets under management to USD 5.6 billion, and successfully integrate into M&G plc in 2022. In reflecting on his tenure, Mommartz emphasized the real difference impact investing makes in people's lives.
Emmanuel Deblanc, Chair of the Board of responsAbility and CIO of M&G's Private Markets business, praised Mommartz's contribution to the company and the impact investing industry. Deblanc also expressed his encouragement for investors to stay the course in impact investing, as it truly changes lives for people who lack opportunity. He looks forward to welcoming Nikolova to responsAbility, as the business plays an important role in the growth of M&G's private markets strategy.
Deblanc believes that with Nikolova's leadership and success in scaling impact strategies, responsAbility will further its ambitions to benefit societies, the environment, and investors. The company's mission remains unchanged: to mobilize capital in emerging markets and deliver measurable social and environmental impact alongside competitive financial returns.
[1] Allianz Global Investors press release, [insert link] [2] M&G plc press release, [insert link]
ResponsAbility Investments AG has announced Nadia Nikolova, an experienced impact investor, as their new CEO, effective September 1, 2025. In her previous role at Allianz Global Investors, Nikolova successfully scaled the sustainable and impact credit investment team, launching a blended finance strategy and raising over EUR 4.5 billion in capital for impact-focused investments. Under Nikolova's leadership at responsAbility, the company is expected to forge ahead with its mission in sustainable finance, focusing on impact areas such as financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food systems, attracting more investors in the business of making a difference.
