Locusts or value creators? These are the most important people in the private equity industry in Germany

Dusseldorf Since SPD politician Franz Müntefering described them as “locusts,” private equity managers in Germany have had an image problem. But in fact, modern capitalism doesn’t work without them. They use the money from investors to buy or invest in companies, rebuild them and, if successful, sell them at a higher price. In the best case, more productive companies and enormous values ​​are created. Who are the people driving the industry forward in Germany? Handelsblatt portrays four particularly high-profile players.

Franziska Kayser, KKR

Women are rare among executives in the private equity industry. Franziska Kayser, born in 1987 and Managing Director of Private Equity at KKR, is therefore an exception. After studying economics in Montreal, Kayser began her career in investment banking at Credit Suisse in London.