The societal and economic value these programs generate is undisputed. The investment migration industry as a whole is currently grossing roughly USD 18 billion per year, with an expectation that it will hit the USD 20 billion mark very soon.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) is now considered the lifeblood of economic growth for many developing and recovering smaller countries around the world. As such, the number of investment migration programs has been increasing rapidly, from just a handful of programs in the 1980s and 1990s to over 100 countries that now have investment migration provisions in their laws. There are more than 60 active programs today, with Moldova and Montenegro — both fast-growing European countries — being the latest to launch strong citizenship offerings this year.
In line with this phenomenal growth, and in order to ensure the firm’s own future-readiness, Henley & Partners has made a number of important and exciting changes to its Executive Committee. The following appointments will take effect as of 1 January 2019:
- Dr. Juerg Steffen will take over the role of Group CEO, while Dr. Christian H. Kälin will remain as Group Chairman.
- Peter S. Vincent, currently the General Counsel of Thomson Reuters Special Services LLC as well as Assistant Director for International Policy of BORDERPOL, will join the Executive Committee, with overall responsibility for Government Services and Business Intelligence.
- Marco Gantenbein, currently Managing Partner of the Dubai office, will replace Dr. Steffen as Group COO.
- Andreas Keller, previously Managing Director of Weber Shandwick Dubai, will join the firm as the new Managing Partner of the Dubai office and Head of Middle East.
- Dr. Christina Federle, Group Head of Legal and Compliance, and Stefan Kraus, the firm’s Chief of Staff, will both join the Executive Committee.
Group Director Hugh Morshead, who is responsible for Corporate Governance, and Chief Financial Officer, Dan Wilson, will remain as members of the new Executive Committee.