In memoriam: Thomas Zimmerer

Dr Thomas Zimmerer sadly and unexpectedly passed away on 6 November 2020. He will be sorely missed by colleagues from across Allianz Global Investors.

As Global Head of Multi Asset Investments, Thomas oversaw the direction and development of AllianzGI’s Multi Asset investment offering.  He was an active member of the firm’s Investment Executive Committee and International Management Group.  A calm, thoughtful leader, Thomas’ many contributions to the running of the firm were invariably insightful and solutions-oriented, based on a deep regard for AllianzGI’s clients.  He did more than bring his whole self to the office, on one occasion enlisting one of his sons talented in design to provide the illustration for an executive offsite.   

Thomas joined AllianzGI as Global Head of Product Specialists for Multi Asset in 2014, contributing significantly to the global expansion of our offering beyond its base in Europe.  His roots in Allianz went further back, though: from 1997 until 2003, Thomas was a portfolio manager with Allianz Asset Management focused on active bond strategies and active protection strategies. 

Thomas’ particular skill in articulating – and visualising – complex and quantitative investment approaches to those with less experience or knowledge was honed during his years between Allianz assignments. From 2003 to 2014 he taught as a professor of Finance and Investments at the University of Applied Sciences in Ansbach, Germany, and served as senior consultant for alpha portfolio advisors, a German-based consulting firm, advising institutional investors.  Thomas was a graduate of the University of Regensburg, Germany, where he gained a master’s degree in Economics and Finance and a Ph.D. in Econometrics.

For many of us Thomas was not only a colleague; he was a friend whose constant kindness and good advice will be dearly missed. 

Our thoughts are with Thomas and his family.  He leaves behind a wife and two young-adult sons.