Slate Asset Management has appointed Christian Schmid as managing director and global head of infrastructure.

Schmid, who joins from Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), will lead Slate’s newly launched cities and communities impact infrastructure strategy.

Schmid was the sector lead for utilities at QIC where he worked for over two and a half years. Prior to QIC, he spent 13 years at RBC Capital Markets, as managing director and was responsible for originating and executing infrastructure transactions across Europe and North America. He began his career at the German utility company RWE, where he worked in corporate finance.

Slate’s newly launched strategy will target infrastructure assets that advance the global energy transition and drive reductions in carbon emissions associated with our cities and communities, the manager said.

The cities and communities impact infrastructure strategy will partner with cities, companies and technology providers and invest across the infrastructure spectrum in long-term clean energy and sustainability solutions for urban settings.

Brady Welch, founding partner at Slate Asset Management, said meeting the ambitious net-zero commitments of governments and communities around the world will require massive investments to upgrade and modernise urban infrastructure.

“With our cities and communities impact infrastructure strategy, we have a unique opportunity to leverage Slate’s existing expertise, reach and relationships to put ourselves at the forefront of that change, and we are very pleased that Christian has joined us to lead these efforts.”

“Slate’s young culture of innovation will be a significant advantage as we champion technologies and infrastructure solutions aimed at making our cities and communities more environmentally resilient,” said Schmid.

“This culture, coupled with the firm’s well-established global footprint, vertically-integrated portfolio and focus on ESG, positions Slate well to unlock compelling investment opportunities tied to the global energy transition while advancing our vision of a more sustainable future.”

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