The renowned fund industry executive Manuela M. Froehlich is joining ALIGN as Head of Fundraising & Investor Relations, marking a decisive step in ALIGN’s expansion towards institutional investors.
Manuela’s 35-year career spans key markets and institutions across Europe: from HypoVereinsbank to F&C Investments in London, from Aquila Group to LRI Invest in Luxembourg, and most recently in an impact investing boutique in Zurich. Along the way, she co-founded Fondsfrauen, the largest European network for women in Finance and became a respected voice for diversity, innovation, and growth. Now, she is taking a new step – and it’s one that will be noticed.
By joining ALIGN, she adds her institutional credibility, network, and proven leadership to a company that has already demonstrated resilience, innovation, and vision in private debt for the media sector.
ALIGN is a specialist private debt manager focused on media finance, capitalizing on a €10bn underserved market that emerged after banks retreated from it following the 2008 financial crisis. This market, previously and typically accessible only to industry insiders – now offers institutional investors uncorrelated returns through ALIGN’s Senior Debt strategy. The company provides institutional-grade investment solutions while supporting content creation with cultural and societal impact. Operating its Article 8 SFDR-compliant investment solutions from offices in Los Angeles, London, and Brussels, ALIGN combines deep media industry expertise with institutional investment discipline to deliver predictable cash flows and downside protection to sophisticated investors seeking access to this niche opportunity.
Why it matters:
- For Family Offices, her move signals that ALIGN is more than an alternative – it is a trusted long-term partner.
- For Banks and Wealth Managers, it means ALIGN is ready to integrate at scale into advisory platforms.
- For Institutions, it opens the door to a new asset class presented with institutional rigor
“I have always been driven by the challenge of building bridges – between managers and investors, between vision and execution. What I see at ALIGN is the rare combination of proven resilience, cultural relevance, and institutional discipline. It is the perfect match to channel my passion and experience into future growth.”
Adrian Politowski, Co-Founder ALIGN:
“With Manuela on board, ALIGN gains more than a Head of Fundraising – we gain a strategic partner who understands how to position an asset class. Her track record and network will accelerate our mission to make Media Finance an institutional-grade strategy.”
For an industry always watching for signals, this one is clear: if someone with Manuela M. Froehlich’s experience and reputation makes such a move, it means the story is bigger than one company – it’s about the rise of a new asset class and chapters to be written in the industry.
Bild © Manuela M. Froehlich