Stephen Marquardt to step down as CEO of Blue Earth Capital

Baar-Zug, Switzerland, December 12, 2024

• After three years as CEO of Blue Earth Capital AG (“BlueEarth”), Stephen Marquardt will leave the company in early 2025.
• Stephen leaves at a time of significant success for BlueEarth, with AUM passing $1.4bn and a unique impact approach spanning dedicated equity, credit, funds, mandates and secondaries strategies across emerging and global markets.
• An orderly transition has begun led by the Board which will see Marko Roeder serve as interim CEO and Mark Rowe as COO, until the appointment of a new permanent CEO.

Blue Earth Capital (“BlueEarth”), the specialist global impact investor, today announces that Chief Executive Officer Stephen Marquardt is to step down from the role in early 2025. Stephen’s decision comes after almost three years in the position, having joined the business in January 2022 to guide its growth and expand its global footprint, and follows the successful completion of the objectives set out at that time.

Under Stephen’s leadership, the firm has established itself as a leader in the impact investment space, addressing social and environmental causes in emerging and global markets, whilst aiming to deliver market-rate returns. This is delivered through BlueEarth’s unique ‘Total Impact’ approach and broad skillset across private equity, credit, funds, mandates and secondaries strategies.

Stephen’s departure follows a period of significant success for BlueEarth, which this year exceeded $1.4bn AuM, completed the close of its dedicated Climate Growth Strategy and first close of a dedicated evergreen, semiliquid private credit fund, as well as achieving landmark transactions in the impact sector, including the first secondaries transaction with a Development Finance Institution (DFI) with British International Investment (BII).

Urs Wietlisbach, co-founder and Chairman of Blue Earth Capital, said: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Steve, who has helped take BlueEarth through a remarkable period of growth and maturity, becoming a true leader in the impact investment space. He has excelled in building a team, structure and ethos which sets BlueEarth apart in the increasingly competitive impact sector. I am confident that BlueEarth will continue to go from strength to strength based on the foundations that Steve helped to establish.”

Stephen Marquardt, CEO of Blue Earth Capital, commented: “I’m extremely proud of the business we’ve built together over the last three years. I’ve watched the firm develop into an established investor with over $1.4bn AuM and growing. I’m particularly proud of the breadth and depth of talent we now have at the company – these are people who are truly passionate about delivering impact through their work. I have greatly enjoyed my work with the team here and have every confidence in their and the company’s continued success.”

BlueEarth has begun the search for a permanent appointment to the CEO role. In the interim period, following Stephen’s departure, Marko Roeder will be appointed as interim CEO, with Mark Rowe assuming the role of COO on an interim basis.

Marko Roeder has over 25 years’ experience in the investment industry, including leading global growth programmes across equities, fixed income and multi asset strategies and dedicated offerings in the sustainable and impact investment space. Marko worked as Head of Asset Management and member of the Global Executive Board at Vontobel from 2020 as part of a 17-year career with the firm. Marko also has direct experience and familiarity with Blue Earth Capital, working part time as Head of Investment & Finance Solutions at the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, and will apply his deep career experience and knowledge of the firm to the interim CEO role.

Mark Rowe, who will be joining as interim COO, is a seasoned consultant in the private equity sector with extensive expertise in financial accounting and administration for alternative investments. With over 22 years at Partners Group, including 13 years as a Partner, he has held key leadership roles such as Head of the Guernsey office, and overseeing Product Accounting and Investment Operations. A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Mr. Rowe also serves as a Director for several Partners Group-related entities and as an Advisory Partner for the firm.

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Note to editors

About Blue Earth Capital
Blue Earth Capital is a global, independent, specialist impact investor, headquartered in Switzerland, with operations in New York, London, and Konstanz. Blue Earth Capital seeks to address the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges by delivering measurable impact alongside aiming for attractive and market-rate financial returns. The company operates dedicated private equity, private credit, and fund solutions as well as separately managed accounts. Blue Earth Capital is owned by the Blue Earth Foundation, a Stiftung (charity/trust) registered in Switzerland that focuses on deep impact to support initiatives and business ventures to help deliver a more equitable and sustainable future.

Blue Earth Capital media contact:
Kekst CNC
Blueearthcapital@kekstcnc.com