Mr. Alexander Papakostoulis is an experienced Investment Manager specializing in fixed income alternatives, with a strong background in asset management, portfolio construction, and manager selection. At Bayerische Versorgungskammer—Germany’s largest pension group—he led investments in diverse fixed income asset classes including private debt, infrastructure debt, CLOs, and emerging market debt. He also played a key role in selecting and onboarding external asset managers. Currently a Senior Business Consultant at BearingPoint, Alexander advises financial institutions on investment compliance, target operating models, and IT architecture optimization. With over 5 years of hands-on experience in asset management, he brings deep expertise in due diligence, portfolio strategy, and investment operations. He began his career with Allianz and State Street, gaining valuable exposure to indirect private equity and international investment fund services. Alexander holds an M.Sc. in Business and Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam, with professional credentials in credit risk and investment fund specialization.
Beatrice is a distinguished economist and President of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). She holds the position of Professor of International Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society at INSEAD in France. Previously, she served as a research professor at INSEAD Singapore and a professor at the Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. From 2004 to 2012, Beatrice was a member of the German Council of Economic Experts, contributing significantly to economic policy debates in Germany. She advises governments, international organizations, and central banks and has served as an independent director on the boards of global corporations such as Roche, UBS, and Thyssen-Krupp. Currently, she sits on the boards of Unigestion and Bosch. Her research focuses on international macroeconomics, financial crises, and climate finance, areas where she has made notable scholarly contributions.
Jan-Menko Grummer is a highly experienced Partner with over 25 years in the accounting and advisory industry, specializing in digital transformation, IPO readiness, ESG strategy, corporate finance, and long-term value creation. Throughout his career, including two decades at EY, he led strategic initiatives across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, contributing as Long Term Value Lead and Member of the Assurance Management Committee. His expertise spans advising listed companies, private equity firms, and public organizations on ESG transformation, governance, and financial reporting. He currently serves on multiple advisory boards and teaches sustainability and digital business management. Jan-Menko is also an active member of professional bodies including the Wirtschaftsprüferkammer and has held leadership roles at Accountancy Europe. A graduate of Kellogg Executive Education, he combines technical excellence with a purpose-driven mindset, helping organizations align business strategy with sustainable, long-term value.
Axel A. Weber is a renowned economist and financial leader with deep expertise in central banking, financial regulation, and corporate governance. As President of the Deutsche Bundesbank (2004–2011), he represented Germany on the ECB Governing Council, IMF, and G7/G20 committees, contributing significantly to European monetary policy. He later served as Chairman of UBS Group AG (2012–2022), leading its strategic transformation and regulatory engagement. Currently, he is President of the Center for Financial Studies at Goethe University Frankfurt and Chairman of the Trilateral Commission Europe. Weber serves on the Group of Thirty and advises the Boston Consulting Group, Temasek Holdings, Visa Economic Empowerment Institute, and CVC Capital Partners. He also chairs the advisory board of Raisin GmbH and works with European payment providers and VC firms. Holding a Ph.D. in Economics, he has taught at leading institutions including the University of Cologne and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
