Michael Stutz
Over twenty years of experience in developing, launching, scaling and managing investment solutions, with leadership responsibility also in adjacent areas such as operations and business development.
Conviction
Over the years, I have been part of many investment decisions. The investment process included systematic elements, for example when screening ideas. The final decision, however, was made on a discretionary basis and as a team. Working hands-on with factor models, portfolio optimization and bringing it all together in a fully systematically managed fund showed me the potential of systematic solutions. With S³, I want to help more Swiss investors benefit from it.
Experience
2Xideas AG · 2014–2026
Partner-led asset manager focused on mid-cap equities. Joined as partner in 2014, Chief Investment Officer from 2016 and additionally Chief Executive Officer from November 2024. Scaled the investment business from zero to around USD 2.3 billion at its peak.
- Developed a collective investment decision-making process and launched the 2Xideas Library Index (2014) and the resulting UCITS fund (2018, peak volume around USD 1.3 billion).
- Co-developed a proprietary equity factor model and converted the Global Mid Cap 130/30 Fund to a fully systematic, factor-based process (quality-growth, momentum) in mid-2025.
- Co-designed the firm's proprietary software platform for research, portfolio management, operations and business development.
- Led the FINMA licensing process as a manager of collective assets, and built and chaired two Luxembourg umbrella fund structures (SICAV-SIF and UCITS) as board chairman from 2017 to 2022.
- Co-built the sales team and strategy, including regulatory-compliant expansion into foreign distribution markets, and acquired and managed institutional and private investors across more than 1,000 sales interactions.
- Overall leadership as CEO from November 2024, with a significant increase in cost efficiency.
Before · 1999–2014
The professional foundation in private wealth and asset management. From analyst during university through a first full-time role as portfolio manager to leadership as Head of Portfolio Management.
- Entered private wealth management, supporting fund savings plans, evaluating investment products and providing administrative support already during upper secondary school and university. The final-year thesis was titled "Investment Funds – Who Is Behind Them."
- First full-time role as portfolio manager: launched and managed an asset allocation fund with a high allocation to hedge fund investments.
- As Head of Portfolio Management at a multi-family office: responsible for discretionary multi-asset portfolios for high-net-worth private clients, manager selection for a Luxembourg umbrella fund structure, and setting up a Liechtenstein fund structure for private equity investments.
- Supported a private equity investment in the US from due diligence through board observer and board member to a partial exit.
Qualifications
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).