BlackRock executive joins investment technology firm SimCorp

New hire will lead the firm's operations in the Americas.

A former executive at BlackRock who focused on business development for its investment management technology offering has joined SimCorp as managing director and head of Americas.

The firm merged with Axioma in January to create an entity with 360 clients in the region, 500 employees, and ambitious plans to expand the reach of its integrated investment management solutions for the global buy side.

By hiring Allen Zimmerman, whose industry experience also includes roles at Barclays and Citi, the firm aims to build on the consistent double-digit growth that it has enjoyed in the region in recent years. It first entered the region in 2000 and is a subsidiary of Deutsche Boerse Group.

“The Americas are the top strategic priority for SimCorp,” said Christian Kromann, CEO at SimCorp. “Our goal is to at least double the customer base for SimCorp and Axioma in the region and it will undoubtedly serve as the primary growth engine for us over the next five years. Allen’s track record of delivering outstanding client results will be instrumental in driving our further expansion in this key region.”

The firm has been bolstering its leadership team in the Americas, appointing Eric Lapham as head of asset management sales, Sarah Langille as head of sales Canada, and Gretchen Garrigues as global chief marketing officer.

Zimmerman will be based in New York and report to chief revenue officer Oliver Johnson. He is looking forward to sharing his extensive expertise in front office modeling, financial markets and helping drive efficiency for investment managers with his new team.

“With the prior announcement of SimCorp’s merger with Axioma, it became apparent that the vision of a fully integrated platform was being realized, which brings with it a significant and exciting opportunity for the market,” he said. “With 360 clients across the Americas, SimCorp already has a strong presence in the region, and I am energized by the challenge of leading initiatives here and delivering value to our clients. As market conditions increase the demand for investment managers to operate more efficiently, SimCorp stands well-prepared for sustained growth in the Americas.”