Goldman taps Fink, Prieto to head new EMEA alternatives group

Wolfgang Fink and Macario Prieto were named co-chairs of a newly formed EMEA Alternatives Origination Group at Goldman Sachs, part of a broader reshuffle inside the bank’s global credit business that will affect teams covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The new unit is tasked with generating financing and investment ideas for clients across the region, a memo described in Bloomberg’s coverage.

Bloomberg reported that “the newly-formed group will focus on sourcing financing and investment ideas for clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg News.” The reporting also noted that “Fink will remain the bank’s Chief Executive Officer of Germany and Austria, while Prieto will become chairman of investment banking in EMEA, according to a second memo.” A Financial Post feed item summarized the change by saying, “Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has named Wolfgang Fink and Macario Prieto co-chairs of its EMEA Alternatives Origination Group, adding to leadership changes across its global credit business.”

The appointments consolidate responsibility for alternatives origination under two senior executives already running major regional businesses, which could shift workloads and client coverage patterns for bankers in origination, private credit and structured products. Wolfgang Fink’s continued role as Chief Executive Officer of Germany and Austria suggests he will split duties between national leadership and a region-wide origination remit. Macario Prieto’s simultaneous elevation to chairman of investment banking in EMEA creates a dual role that links traditional investment banking oversight with alternatives origination.

For employees, the immediate uncertainties matter. The memos cited in reporting do not include effective dates, reporting lines, or details about whether other leaders will be shifted or promoted as part of the same reorganization. Front-office bankers and coverage teams in London, Frankfurt, Madrid and Dubai are likely to see changes to client assignments and approval pathways. Operations, compliance and credit-risk teams may also face new workflows as the firm stitches origination, distribution and product teams to support an alternatives push across multiple jurisdictions.

The wider market backdrop shows peers expanding private markets and loan capabilities. Financial Post’s industry roundup alongside the Goldman item noted other moves including that Hudson Bay Capital Management “brought on a team of ex-BlackRock Inc. executives to start a new private credit strategy for the $20 billion money manager,” that Citigroup veteran Benjamin Ng left the bank’s Hong Kong loan franchise, and that Blackstone “is planning to hire more people across Asia to tap growing opportunities in private markets, according to Ed Huang, the firm’s head of Asia Pacific private wealth.” Those shifts underscore competition for talent and deal flow in private-credit and alternatives origination.

Next steps for Goldman employees and market contacts include seeking the effective dates and reporting structure for the new group, and watching for internal guidance on client coverage and resourcing. The appointments signal that Goldman is betting on alternatives origination in EMEA as a growth area, and the operational details that follow will determine how workloads, incentives and career paths for credit and origination professionals evolve.