M&G designates a new chief executive officer for its impact investing division.
In a significant move for the impact investment sector, Nadia Nikolova has been appointed as the new CEO of responsAbility, the impact investment arm of M&G Investments. Nikolova will take over from Rochus Mommartz, who is retiring after more than two decades of leadership at the firm.
Nikolova, an expert in impact credit investment, joins responsAbility from Allianz Global Investors, where she served as head of direct lending. At Allianz GI, she managed private credit teams across Europe and Asia, focusing on sustainable and impact credit strategies. Her tenure at Allianz GI saw her develop blended finance approaches and oversee private credit investments in small-cap impact companies across Europe.
Founded in 2003 and part of M&G’s €90 billion private markets division, responsAbility specializes in deploying capital into emerging markets. The firm's unique approach combines a focus on financial returns with a commitment to positive social and environmental outcomes. Its core investment themes include financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food.
As CEO, Nikolova will report to Emmanuel Deblanc, CIO of private markets at M&G Investments and chair of responsAbility. Deblanc expressed admiration for Rochus Mommartz's contributions to responsAbility and the impact investing industry. Mommartz, who has led the firm since 2016, is considered a pioneer in the impact investing sector.
Since M&G's acquisition of responsAbility in May 2022, the firm has received around £360 million of patient capital from M&G's Life business. This partnership has enabled responsAbility to expand its reach and deepen its impact in emerging markets.
Nikolova is deeply passionate about financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food. She is excited to build upon responsAbility's foundation and scale high-impact strategies, continuing its mission of investing in emerging markets to generate both financial and societal value under M&G’s umbrella.
In his farewell message, Mommartz encouraged investors to stay the course in impact investing, stating that it truly changes lives for people who lack opportunity. He leaves responsAbility with a strong legacy and a team ready to continue its mission. Nikolova will assume the role on September 1, 2025.
Nikolova, in her new role as CEO, will oversee investing and business strategies at responsAbility, a private markets firm within M&G's portfolio, with a focus on technology-driven, impact-oriented finance, particularly in emerging markets, aiming to generate both financial returns and positive social and environmental outcomes.
With her expertise in managing private credit teams and developing blended finance approaches, Nikolova plans to scale high-impact strategies at responsAbility, focusing on financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food, while leveraging the patient capital from M&G's Life business to expand the firm's reach and deepen its impact.
