Global investor services provider SGG Group has appointed Serge Krancenblum to the new position of Group Executive Chairman and chair of the Group’s Supervisory Board and Mark Pesco as its new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Both appointments are subject to regulatory approval.
Under Krancenblum’s leadership SGG Group has become the fourth largest independent investor services firm in the world, with the required scale and industry expertise across all segments.
As Group Executive Chairman, Krancenblum will chair the Supervisory Board of the Group and act as an adviser and a trusted mentor to Pesco, sharing experience, know-how and network. His focus will be on leading the M&A strategy and driving the group corporate social responsibility agenda. Krancenblum will continue representing SGG at the highest level within the industry, with the authorities and key clients and prospects.
As Group CEO, Pesco is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business and the day to day management of the business. A highly experienced and industry recognised figure Pesco joined SGG Group as Group Segment Leader, Private Clients following the successful acquisition of First Names Group in 2018 where he previously held the role of CEO.
A Chartered Accountant, his significant experience in dealing with clients with wide ranging interests together with his distinctive leadership style has meant that he has enjoyed rapid progression throughout his career. His career includes a number of senior industry roles including Partner, Managing Director, Group Managing Director and CEO. He is well placed in managing a global business such as SGG Group having gained much of his own experience operating on the international stage having held senior positions in Singapore, Australia, London and Jersey.
Pesco says: “I feel extremely honoured to have been given this opportunity at this point in the Group’s evolution. Serge has been a tremendous catalyst in this business; his vision together with the support of our private equity partner Astorg has delivered us to where we are today; my job is to build on this success. The combination of our global scale and sectoral expertise together with our unrelenting focus on delivering a high touch service to our clients puts us in a unique position to service the evolving needs of our growing global client base. This is an exciting time to be taking on this role and I’m looking forward to the challenge”.
Serge Krancenblum, Group Executive Chairman congratulated Mark, says: “I am really pleased to have found in Mark the ideal candidate to succeed me as Group CEO. Being able to select someone of his calibre from within our own ranks evidences the incredible pool of experienced and talented people we have within our business. Mark is long recognised for his industry expertise, his unwavering passion for delivering superior client service and his highly personable leadership style. Knowing that the Group is in such capable hands leaves me free to take up my own new position as Group Executive Chairman with my full energy and commitment. I believe that together we make an extremely strong team.”
Astorg managing partner, François de Mitry, says: “When we acquired SGG, Serge began a mission to find the future Group CEO, someone capable of leading the type of dynamic group we wanted to build together. Thanks to the acquisition of First Names Group we found, in Mark Pesco, the right candidate to succeed Serge. I am confident that their collective drive and expertise will prove itself to be an invaluable asset for the business.”
“On behalf of the Astorg team I wish both Serge and Mark continued success and I very much look forward to working with them and the rest of the SGG Executive Team as we continue on this exciting period of exceptional growth.”