Early Life and Education
Matthias Reinhart was born in August 1960. He studied business administration at the University of St. Gallen (HSG), graduating in 1986 with a lic. oec. HSG degree. After graduating, he spent five years at McKinsey & Company in Zurich and Chicago.
Rise to Success
In 1993, Reinhart co-founded VZ VersicherungsZentrum AG (later VZ VermögensZentrum AG) with Max Bolanz. The company started as an independent, fee-only financial advisor. As CEO, Reinhart oversaw the expansion of VZ from insurance intermediation to holistic financial advice, asset management, and banking services. The holding company, VZ Holding Ltd., was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in March 2007.
Key Business Strategies
VZ's key proposition was bringing transparency to the financial market, allowing customers to compare financial product prices and benefits. The firm does not broker financial products; instead, it charges fees for advisory and portfolio management services. During Reinhart's tenure, the group expanded across Switzerland, Germany, and the UK.
Transition to Chairman
On March 3, 2022, it was announced that Reinhart would become chairman in 2023, with Giulio Vitarelli taking over as CEO.