Swiss investment company, Vontobel, has announced its plan to establish a new office in Düsseldorf in 2026. This new branch will further assert their position in Germany, with a particular focus on high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and family offices in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Vontobel’s decision to extend its operations in Germany aligns with their ongoing selective growth strategy in prime European markets. The firm already views Germany as a core market where it provides services to private clients through its offices in Munich and Hamburg. Meanwhile, the firm’s institutional activities and European structured products businesses are primarily operated from Frankfurt.
In a joint statement, Christel Rendu de Lint and Georg Schubiger, Co-CEOs of Vontobel, stated, “We are consistently pursuing our strategy of selective investment in growth. As one of Europe’s key markets, Germany, and particularly North Rhine-Westphalia, are crucial to our business strategy.”
Düsseldorf is renowned for its well-established wealth management tradition and a thick web of industrial, commercial, and service-oriented businesses. As such, it is a logical next step for the Zurich-based firm. The new branch will concentrate on providing customized investment solutions to affluent private clients and family offices in the area.
The company plans to make use of its global investment platform, backed by more than 300 investment professionals worldwide, to deliver local services while maintaining its international diversification capabilities.
Jean-Pierre Stillhart, Head of Private Clients DACH and member of the Executive Management Board of Bank Vontobel, highlighted the strategic reasoning behind this move: “As an internationally active Swiss wealth manager, this expansion provides our clients in Germany with additional perspectives and diversification opportunities.”
The firm has now begun the search for a prime Düsseldorf location and is actively seeking experienced advisers and teams who align with its long-term investment philosophy and conservative risk culture.
Vontobel’s expansion reinforces its cross-border wealth management model, which allows German clients to custody assets either domestically or in Switzerland. Currently, about 20 investment professionals in Munich and Hamburg, supported by specialists in Zurich, serve German-based clients.
As of the end of 2025, Vontobel managed over EUR 130 billion in assets for private clients globally, illustrating the scope of its wealth management franchise.
The Düsseldorf initiative reflects a more extensive industry trend where Swiss private banks are selectively extending their operations in Germany. This expansion seeks to tap into structurally attractive wealth pools, especially among entrepreneurial clients and family offices interested in international diversification and advisory-driven mandates.
What is Vontobel’s strategy for growth?
Vontobel uses a selective growth strategy, specifically focusing on key markets in Europe. Germany, in particular, is a core market for the firm.
How does Vontobel plan to serve clients in Düsseldorf?
Vontobel plans to use its global investment platform, which is backed by more than 300 investment professionals worldwide. This approach allows the firm to deliver local services while maintaining international diversification capabilities.
What is unique about Vontobel’s expansion to Düsseldorf?
This expansion aligns with a broader industry trend where Swiss private banks are selectively extending their operations within Germany to tap into attractive wealth pools. As such, Vontobel’s move into Düsseldorf is part of a larger strategic move within the wealth management industry.
