Akina promotes Gleisberg to partner

European fund of funds manager Akina has promoted Ralf Gleisberg to partner in the firm’s Zurich headquarters, according to a statement.

Gleisberg will continue to build specialist European relationships for the firm and previously advised on country strategies for the Benelux and France.  He first joined Akina in 2005 and held the title of principal before being promoted. Gleisberg is known inside the company for setting up Akina’s portfolio monitoring for advised investment vehicles.

Prior to joining Akina, Gleisberg worked in corporate finance at Lombard Odier Group and spent three years at Dresdner Bank in various divisions in Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Hong Kong.

Akina, formerly known as Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie, is an investment firm that manages funds of funds and direct investment programs, investing mainly in small and mid-sized companies in Europe. The company closed its fifth fund of funds vehicle on $372 million in April.

That fund – Euro Choice V – focuses on the European mid-market and lower mid-market through primary and secondary buyout and growth capital investments.  Akina spun out of Lombard Odier in 2000 and had an overall target of €600 million, or roughly $823 million, for the fund of funds.