Our private equity investment team

Our dedicated team of experts specialized in detecting and investing in promising companies and providing them with comprehensive support to facilitate their growth.

The Private Equity team of Zürcher Kantonalbank (from left to right: Andreas Nicoli, Head of Private Equity; Raphaël Gillard, Legal Counsel; Phillip Flesch, Investment Manager; Ellen Rietmann Ahl, Investment Manager; Livio Lanfranconi, Business Manager; Sébastien Marang, Investment Manager; Charlotte Jacobs, Senior Investment Manager; Nils Granath, Senior Investment Director; Oliver Huggenberger, Senior Investment Director; Marco Hefti, Head of Private Equity Distribution; Susanne K. Schorsch, Senior Investment Director; Robert Beermann, Investment Associate; Christian Sarwa, Senior Investment Director)

Meet the team

Andreas Nicoli, Head of Private Equity

Andreas Nicoli is the co-architect of the Private Equity division for Zürcher Kantonalbank, which he is leading since 2018. He is an economist and CFA charterholder. He initiated the Swisscanto Private Equity solutions. Andreas was a co-founder of Focuswater, which was successfully sold to Rivella AG in 2019.
His passions: road cycling and cross-country skiing.

Nils Granath, Senior Investment Director

Nils Granath, a specialist in high-tech, has been responsible for direct investments in technology companies for the Swiss Growth Fund since 2018. His focus is on software and deep tech. Nils has been involved in tech companies for over 15 years, acting as an investor, know-how provider and networker. Nils is an engineer (LiTH/ENSAM) and MBA holder (INSEAD).
His passion: cross country ski marathon

Robert Schier, Senior Investment Advisor

Robert Schier is a qualified pharmacist with a doctorate in applied microbiology from University of Natural Resources, Vienna, and an EMBA degree. He has over 20 years of experience as a life science investor and board member. Since 2018, he has been responsible for investments in the areas of healthtech, biotech, medtech as well as agtech and foodtech for the Swiss Growth Fund. He has also accompanied various start-ups to a successful exit.
His passion: home brewing and beer sommelier.

Oliver Huggenberger, deputy Head of Private Equity, Senior Investment Director

Oliver Huggenberger is an experienced and reliable partner for growth companies. He is Deputy Head of Private Equity at ZKB and responsible for direct investments for the Swiss Growth Fund Oliver has accompanied numerous financing rounds in the role of board member or advisor. He is a mathematician (ETH) and holds a Master's degree in Finance (University of Zurich).
His passion: cooking for guests and parlour games.

Marco Hefti, Head of Sales Private Equity

Marco Hefti is responsible for the distribution of our private equity solutions within the asset management division of Zürcher Kantonalbank. He has more than 15 years of sales experience in both B2C and B2B. He is a Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA) and an Executive MBA candidate at the University of Zurich. His passion: ambitious road cycling.

Ellen Rietmann Ahl, Senior Investment Manager

Ellen Rietmann Ahl is an expert in Life Science, Health- and Foodtech as well as AgTech. She's been an investment manager for the Swiss Growth Fund since 2022. Ellen has lots of start-up experience and founded a company in the field of veterinary medicine, which she managed for four years. She has a Master of Science and Dipl. Ing. (Chalmers University of Technology/TU Munich).
Her passions: rowing and road cycling.

Christian Sarwa, Senior Investment Director

Christian Sarwa is a highly experienced private equity specialist. He's been in charge of direct investments and fund selection for the Global Decarbonization Fund since 2022. He's an engineer (ETH) and MBA graduate from London Business School. He's been in private equity for about 20 years.
His passion: restoring old houses and classic cars.

Charlotte Jacobs, Senior Investment Manager

Charlotte Jacobs is a well connected expert for private equity funds. She's responsible for PE/VC fund investments of the Global Decarbonization Fund. Previously, in addition to managing a mezzanine fund, the MBA graduate (FU Berlin) was responsible for the sourcing, selection and portfolio management of over 50 international private equity and venture capital funds. Her passion: Yoga

Sebastien Marang, Investment Manager

Sebastien Valdemar Marang, knows the agtech, foodtech, energy and mobility sectors inside out. He has been an investment manager for the Global Decarbonization Fund since 2023. Sebastien Valdemar is an engineer (ETH) and specialized in solar technology and energy supply grids.
His passion: mountaineering and ski touring.

Susanne K. Schorsch, Senior Investment Director

Since March 2026, Susanne K. Schorsch, with a degree in Industrial Engineering & Management (KIT), has been responsible for the LifeTech direct investments of the Swiss Growth Fund II. Previously, she managed pan-European deep-tech strategies as a Partner at Amadeus Capital Partners and Verve Ventures. She has invested as a VC and angel in over 25 deep-tech, health, and biotech companies, achieving 5 exits, 2 IPOs, and 3 M&A transactions.
Her passions: running in nature, tennis

Livio Lanfranconi, Business Manager

Livio Lanfranconi is an experienced auditor and the Business Manager since 2023. Before joining ZKB, he was in charge of auditing global and local private equity funds at PwC. Livio is a Swiss certified public accountant and holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance (University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland).
His passion: tennis.

Philipp Flesch, Investment Manager

Philipp Flesch has been investing in growth companies across Europe (Nordics, DACH) and the US since 2021. Since November, he has been working as an Investment Manager for our two Swiss Growth Funds. He has also served as an interim CFO for one of his portfolio companies. Philipp holds a double master’s degree in MSc Finance and CEMS MIM from the Nova School of Business and Economics (Portugal).
His passions: Kitesurfing and reading autobiographies

Robert Beermann, Investment Associate

Robert Beermann joined as an Investment Associate for our Global Decarbonisation Fund in October 2025. Previously, he worked in venture capital and strategy development across various industries. He holds a master’s degree in Business Management with a focus on Venture Capital and Strategy from the University of St.Gallen (HSG).
His passions: Hiking, cooking, deep-sea fishing, and surfing

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Our Advisory und Investment Committee

Every potential investment is thoroughly screened by external and internal experts.

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What we think and write about private equity funds

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Our private equity investment team