Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management has named Thomas Gerhardt as head of its emerging markets and commodities division, while simultaneously announcing the launch of its new Frankfurt branch. The firm said it expects Germany to become one of its most important markets in Europe after France over the next five years.

In his new role, which he takes up at the start of September this year, Gerhardt will report to Philippe Uzan, chief investment officer at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management.

Gerhardt latterly headed the emerging markets equity team at DWS Investments, an asset management subsidiary of Deutsche Bank – a role he had held since 2000 and in which he oversaw a team running some €14 billion ($20 billion) in assets under management. He first joined the equity fund section of DWS in 1994, having begun his career at KPMG.

Edmond de Rothschild said that it would be hiring a further three fund managers in the coming months to join Gerhardt at the new Frankfurt office, boosting its total to 14. The firm currently has four managers in Paris and six Asian equity specialists in Hong Kong.