Dr. Jelle Zijlstra was the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, President of the Central Bank of the Netherlands, and President of the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland, with long-standing engagement with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands. In honour of this renowned economist, we recognize international leaders whose work champions economic national growth, generational-shifting innovation, global collaboration, or charitable commitments which dramatically improve the quality of life for society.
Seestrasse 16, Küsnacht, Switzerland
As the business of managing money is being upended, the heyday of Lynch, Miller and Gross is receding further into the past. In their scramble for survival and under consistent fee pressure, firms are being forced to adapt. Many will be absorbed by other bigger competitors, some will disappear altogether and almost all will need to either cut costs or hone their strategies to increase profit in these uncertain times.
A firm that understood very well that a change in asset management was necessary to remain profitable and successful was the Bellevue Group in Küsnacht, Switserland. This has kept Bellevue Group and its clients one step ahead of the broader investment community since 1993. Creating value for its clients, employees and shareholders is Bellevue’s mission. A strong commitment to excellent investment performance sustained by competence, specialization and innovation is a key consideration for the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands to issue this year’s Dr. Jelle Zijlstra Awards in the field of Active Asset Managament to Bellevue and to its CEO, André Rüegg, for his personal commitment. Bellevue’s well-defined product range helps investors balance specific investment themes with effective diversification and gives them access to enduring growth stories.
Bellevue’s distinct specialization, coupled with entrepreneurial efforts and strong sense of independence, makes the Group stand out from other asset managers. As a standalone asset manager with a multi-boutique profile, Bellevue specializes in investment themes offering attractive return potential that can be unlocked through the firm’s active investment strategies.
Bellevue’s employees are both investment experts and entrepreneurs, and they have a stake in the success of their own clients. This culture goes hand in hand with a strong conviction in active management with a high degree of discipline. Bellevue’s basic business philosophy gives the portfolio management teams the entrepreneurial freedom they need to deliver what the firm promises. There are no high-level investment committees or CIOs. All of Bellevue’s expert teams within the various product areas, which operate independently, are distinguished by a high degree of responsibility, respect and visionary leadership.