ResponsAbility names Nadia Nikolova as its latest CEO appointment.
Nadia Nikolova has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of responsAbility, M&G's impact investment arm, effective September 1, 2025. She will succeed Rochus Mommartz, who founded responsAbility in 2003 and will retire at the end of the year [1][2].
Nikolova brings a wealth of experience in impact investing, particularly in the field of impact credit investment and sustainable finance. Prior to joining M&G, she spent a decade at Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI), where she served as Managing Director and Head of Direct Lending, focusing on private markets across infrastructure debt, credit, and real assets [1][2]. In 2019, she founded Allianz GI’s sustainable and impact credit investment team, developing innovative blended finance approaches and managing private credit investments in small-cap impact companies across Europe [1][2].
Established in 2003 and based in Zurich, responsAbility specialises in deploying capital into emerging markets with a dual focus on generating financial returns and creating positive social and environmental impacts [1][2][5]. The firm's main themes include financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food. In her role, Nikolova will report to Emmanuel Deblanc, the Chair of the Board of responsAbility and the Chief Investment Officer of M&G's Private Markets business [1][2].
Deblanc expressed his confidence in Nikolova's leadership and success in scaling impact strategies, stating that her appointment will further M&G's ambitions in areas such as financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food [1][2]. Nikolova, in turn, expressed her excitement to build upon responsAbility's foundation and scale innovative, high-impact strategies.
responsAbility's unrivaled expertise in these areas benefits M&G's wider EUR 90 billion private markets business. The firm's assets under management are approximately $5.6 billion [1][2]. Nikolova's appointment as CEO of responsAbility positions her at the forefront of impact investing efforts in emerging markets globally [1][2][5].
[1] M&G press release: https://www.mandg.com/content/dam/mandg/documents/corporate/press-releases/2023/2023-05-16-responsAbility-Investments-announces-new-CEO.pdf [2] responsAbility Investments website: https://responsability.com/ [5] Allianz Global Investors press release: https://www.allianzgi.com/en/media/press-releases/allianz-gi-announces-new-head-of-direct-lending-europe/
Nikolova's extensive experience in impact investing, particularly sustainable finance and private credit investments, will significantly impact the business strategies of responsAbility as she takes over as the new CEO. Given responsAbility's focus on deploying capital into emerging markets for financial returns and positive social and environmental impacts, technology will play a crucial role in scaling impact strategies under her leadership.
