For the past decade, Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen has served as Axcel’s Managing Partner, successfully leading the firm through a succession from its founder-led origins. Under his leadership, Axcel has fully transitioned its partner team, significantly grown its Nordic presence, raised a series of increasingly large funds, backed high-performing companies in stable sectors, and consistently delivered strong returns to investors. Building on this solid foundation, Axcel has recently expanded its footprint into the DACH region and is now broadening its investment focus with a dedicated small-cap strategy targeting attractive smaller and mid-sized companies.
To support this next phase and ensure long-term continuity, Christian Bamberger Bro is stepping up to be Co-Managing Partner alongside Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen during a transitional period. Christian Bamberger Bro will take primary responsibility for Axcel VII, the firm’s largest and currently active fund, while Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen will lead the development of Axcel’s new small-cap fund, expected to be launched in 2025. The leadership change will take full effect once fundraising for Axcel’s next mid-market fund, Axcel VIII, begins. At that point, Christian Bamberger Bro will become Managing Partner, while Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen will continue as Partner and head of Axcel’s small-cap strategy.
“The leadership transition is a natural next step in Axcel’s long-term development,” says Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen. “For the past ten years, I’ve had the pleasure of leading Axcel through a strategic repositioning and partner team succession. Now, having raised our largest fund to date and launched a number of important strategic initiatives to expand our reach and scope, the time is right for a gradual and carefully planned transition of leadership.”
“Christian Bamberger Bro has been with Axcel since 2014 and is widely respected within the firm and among our companies and external partners,” he adds. “He holds the trust of our investors and has built a strong investment track record. I look forward to supporting Christian in this transition, and I’m excited to focus long term on developing our new small-cap initiative.”
Christian Bamberger Bro comments: “I’m honoured by the trust placed in me to co-lead – and, in due time, lead – Axcel. On behalf of all the partners, I want to pay tribute to Christian for his lasting contribution to the firm over the past decade. Under his leadership, the partner group has built a uniquely strong foundation with a clear strategy for the future. I look forward to working closely with Christian and the rest of the partners to deliver on the next phase of Axcel’s development and growth.”
Axcel plans Nordic small-cap fund
Axcel’s new small-cap fund will mirror the investment strategy and sector focus of Axcel VII, enabling the firm to access attractive smaller and mid-sized Nordic companies that no longer fit within the scope of its larger mid-market funds. A dedicated small-cap team, headed by Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen, is already in place across Axcel’s Copenhagen and Stockholm offices. The team includes an external Swedish partner, who has been appointed and will be announced later this year, and two internal team members, Kasper Olesen and Jacob Drakenberg Walberg, who have been promoted to partners. Kasper Olesen and Jacob Drakenberg Walberg joined Axcel in 2013 and 2017 respectively and have played key roles in several transactions.
“A small-cap fund will complement Axcel’s well-established mid-market strategy and allow us to invest in attractive companies that are too small for our latest fund,” says Christian Schmidt-Jacobsen. “It will follow the same strategic focus as our other funds and draw on the collective strengths of the entire Axcel team. I’m excited to start fundraising and to build this fund together with the strong team we now have in place.”
Fundraising for Axcel’s small-cap fund is expected to begin in the summer of 2025.