Financial News will unveil its annual compilation of the most senior women in European financial, professional, and legal services on 14 October. The 100 Most Influential Women in Finance highlights leaders making significant strides in an industry still dominated by men at the upper levels. Here’s an introduction to three new entrants on this year’s list.
Stephanie Eckermann
Executive Board Member for Post-Trading, Deutsche Börse
Stephanie Eckermann recently ascended to a senior position within Deutsche Börse, overseeing its post-trade division since June and joining the executive board. She also chairs Clearstream, Deutsche Börse’s central securities depository, following a leadership change in the organization.
Eckermann’s division accounts for one-third of the exchange’s revenue, supported by a workforce of over 3,000. In the past year, she has led a reorganization of Clearstream, dividing its securities and fund services into distinct entities. Following Deutsche Börse’s acquisition of SimCorp last year, she became a board member at the asset management services firm.
Eckermann joined Deutsche Börse in 2020 as head of strategy and controls for post-trade and has held multiple roles within the organization, including CEO of Clearstream Banking. Additionally, she actively supports Deutsche Börse’s internal female talent network and champions gender issues through the exchange’s diversity, equity, and inclusion council.
Before her tenure at Deutsche Börse, Eckermann spent 18 years at McKinsey, serving as a partner for the last decade. She holds a PhD from Goethe University and an MBA from the European Business School and the University of Pittsburgh.
Amy Flikerski
Head of External Portfolio Management, CPP Investments
A native of Canada, Amy Flikerski pursued a career in finance after a background in athletics, training at the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. She achieved recognition as Athlete of the Year twice but ultimately transitioned to finance, earning a degree in economics from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Flikerski began her career at Moody’s Investors Service and later held senior positions at Highbridge Capital Management and Talpion Fund Management in New York. In 2012, she joined CPP Investments, the investment manager for the Canada Pension Plan, initially as a portfolio manager and progressing to lead the climate change program from 2018 to 2019. Now, as global head of the 40-strong external portfolio management team, she manages a C$70 billion (US$51.6 billion) global portfolio encompassing various investment strategies.
Flikerski is a key member of CPP’s global leadership team and serves on multiple committees, including capital markets, active equities, and sustainable investing. She chairs the external portfolio management committee and leads discussions on investment across Europe.
Karen Zachary
Partner, Chief Operating Officer, Lansdowne Partners
Karen Zachary has made a significant impact since joining Lansdowne Partners a little over a year ago, following the acquisition of UK equities boutique Crux Asset Management. With over 25 years of experience at firms like Man Group, Janus Henderson, and Fidelity International, Zachary previously served as the CEO of Crux after initially joining as COO in 2015.
At Lansdowne Partners, which manages over $8 billion, Zachary has spearheaded the integration of Crux and oversees Group Services, which provides essential operational infrastructure for investment managers. She has been instrumental in securing continued investment from US-based Stephens, which extended its investment in Crux to Lansdowne.
Beyond her role at Lansdowne, Zachary serves as chair and independent non-executive director at Mediolanum International Funds in Ireland and holds a non-executive position on the board of the Investment Association, a UK asset management trade body. Additionally, she is a member of the Financial Conduct Authority’s smaller business practitioner panel, representing the asset management sector.
These three women exemplify the talent and leadership emerging in the finance sector, highlighting the continued evolution and diversification of the industry.
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