Stephen Marquardt will step down from his role Chief Executive Officer of BlueEarth Capital in early 2025. Marquardt joined the company in January 2022 to drive its growth and global presence and has led BlueEarth to a key position in the impact investing sector.
Marquardt’s retirement follows a period of significant achievements for BlueEarth. In 2024, BlueEarth exceeded $1.4 billion in assets under management, announced the final closing of a dedicated private equity climate strategy and launched its first semi-liquid private credit impact evergreen fund. In addition, BlueEarth completed landmark transactions in the impact sector, including the first secondary market transaction with a development finance institution – British International Investment. And the company partnered with the the Inter-American Development Bank Group to support a sustainable marine tourism company in the Galapagos Islands.
Urs Wietlisbach, co-founder and chairman of Blue Earth Capital, said, “I would like to express my sincere thanks to Steve. He has led BlueEarth through a remarkable period of growth and maturity and established himself as a true leader in impact investing. In particular, he has built structures and a team that make BlueEarth stand out in the increasingly competitive impact sector. I am convinced that BlueEarth will continue its successful development on the foundation laid by Steve.”
“I am very proud of the company we have built together over the past three years,” Marquardt said. “I have watched the company grow into an established investor with over $1.4 billion in assets under management and growing. I am especially proud of the talented people we have at BlueEarth – dedicated people who really want to make a difference with their work. It has been a great pleasure working with the team and I have full confidence in BlueEarth’s continued success.”
BlueEarth has begun its search for a permanent CEO position. Following Stephen Marquardt’s departure, Marko Roeder will serve as interim CEO, while Mark Rowe will assume the role of COO on an interim basis.
Marko Roeder has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry, leading global programs in equities, fixed income and multi-asset strategies as well as sustainable and impact investing. Roeder joined Vontobel in 2020 as Head of Asset Management and member of the Global Executive Board, where he has a career spanning 17 years. Roeder is already familiar with BlueEarth, as he works part-time as Head of Investment & Finance Solutions at the Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation. He will bring his extensive professional experience and knowledge of the company to the role of Interim CEO.
Mark Rowe, who will join as interim COO, is an experienced private equity consultant with extensive expertise in financial accounting and alternative investment management. In over 22 years at Partners Group, including 13 years as a partner, Rowe has held key leadership roles including heading the Guernsey office and overseeing accounting and investment operations. A member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Rowe also serves as a director of several Partners Group-affiliated entities and as an Advisory Partner to the firm.
Stephen Marquardt
