Stephen Marquardt (left) and Urs Baumann, Blue Earth Capital

Stephen Marquardt has been named as CEO of Blue Earth Capital, an impact investment firm established and backed by Partners Group’s founders.

Marquardt is a familiar face in European private equity. He was co-head of investor relations at secondaries firm Coller Capital from 2016 to 2021. Prior to that, he was CEO of private equity firm Doughty Hanson, having joined the firm in 2000 as head of investor relations and fundraising, affiliate title Secondaries Investor reported. He has also served on the board and the investment committee of specialist impact investing firm Bridges Fund Management, a statement from Blue Earth said.

Marquardt will assume the role on 1 March, replacing Urs Baumann, the founding CEO of Blue Earth, who will depart on 31 May. Baumann joined Blue Earth in 2015 and announced his plans to step down in October 2021. Baumann will remain an investor and an adviser to Blue Earth’s board of directors.

Blue Earth announced the first close of its Climate Growth Fund at $100 million last week, with $50 million from Partners Group co-founder Urs Wietlisbach’s charitable foundation and $50 million from Swiss bank Union Bancaire Privée.

Blue Earth, headquartered in Baar, Zug, Switzerland, was founded in 2015 as PG Impact Investments by Partners Group co-founders Urs Wietlisbach and Alfred Gantner, and Partners Group’s former chairman Peter Wuffli. It was renamed in July 2021 and announced its plans to “reach operational independence from Partners Group” by 2025.

“I am extremely pleased to be able to place the management of Blue Earth in the capable hands of Stephen Marquardt. I am convinced that Blue Earth will continue to thrive and achieve its vision under his leadership,” Baumann said in the firm’s statement.