Universal Investment appoints Hess as CFO 02 September 2025Germany Reporter: Zarah Choudhary
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Universal Investment Group, a fund services platform and Super ManCo, has appointed Hilton Hess as chief financial officer, effective 1 September 2025.
In his new role, Hess will further strengthen the UI Group’s C-suite and will oversee all aspects of the Group’s financial strategy and management.
Hess brings more than 35 years of international corporate finance and leadership experience, with a career largely dedicated to chief financial officer roles in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Most recently, Hess served as chief financial officer at Vistra Group, a global provider of corporate governance, fund administration, and entity management services.
Prior to this, Hess was also the chief financial officer at VetPartners, where he led the Finance, IT, and governance functions and successfully delivered organic and inorganic growth initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Hess served as chief financial officer for the East Division and subsequently for Europe at Rentokil Initial.
His professional journey began at Unilever including a role as chief financial officer for South Africa.
Francesca McDonagh, group CEO of Universal Investment, says: “I am delighted to welcome Hilton to our Group leadership team in this pivotal role.
“He combines deep financial expertise with a strong record of international leadership. His experience in driving long-term growth, operational excellence, and strategic change makes him ideally qualified to lead our financial strategy as we pursue continued growth with our clients.”
Commenting on his appointment, Hess adds: “I am honoured to join Universal Investment Group at such an important time in its growth journey.
“I look forward to working closely with the leadership team and our finance organisation to advance our strategic goals and deliver exceptional value for our clients, employees, and shareholders.”
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