M&G has appointed Nadia Nikolova as chief executive officer of impact investment firm responsAbility, effective 1 September 2025, following the retirement of CEO Rochus Mommartz.
Nikolova joins from Allianz Global Investors, where she was head of direct lending. She led the firm’s sustainable and impact credit team, launched a blended finance strategy, and helped raise over €4.5bn. More recently, she developed a private credit strategy focused on small impact-driven companies in Europe.
Nikolova will report to Emmanuel Deblanc, CIO of private markets at M&G and chair of responsAbility.
M&G’s Private Markets business chair of responsAbility and chief investment officer Emmanuel Deblanc says: “Rochus has not only made a significant contribution to responsAbility, but has been a pioneer of the impact investing industry, which has gained traction in recent years. Communities and lives have been transformed across emerging markets where patient capital is carefully deployed – a legacy Rochus should be very proud of. We wish him the very best for his forthcoming retirement.
“We look forward to welcoming Nadia to responsAbility – a business that is important to the growth of our private markets strategy as investors seek managers with proven track records in financial inclusion, climate finance and sustainable food. responsAbility has unrivalled expertise in these areas, which benefit M&G’s wider €90 billion private markets business, and with Nadia’s leadership and success in scaling impact strategies, we will further our ambitions to the benefit of society, the environment and investors.”
Rochus Mommartz says: “I have had the privilege to witness the emergence of the impact investment market – and to see the real difference it makes in people’s lives. It has been an exceptional honour to work alongside so many passionate colleagues at responsAbility, our investees and partners. I can only encourage investors to stay the course – it truly changes lives for people who still lack opportunity.”
Nikolova says: “I’m honoured to join responsAbility at such a pivotal time in the evolution of impact in[1]vesting. For more than two decades, responsAbility delivered measurable outcomes across financial inclusion, climate finance and sustainable food – areas I’m deeply passionate about. I’m excited to build upon this foundation working with the team and M&G to scale innovative, high-impact strategies that aim to deliver financial performance to our clients that generate long-term measurable positive impact for our communities.”
