Niam Group, a leading private markets firm in Northern Europe focused on Real Estate, Infrastructure, Credit and Private Equity, today announces the appointment of Axel Karlsson as new CEO. This is a newly established position created to drive Niam’s continued expansion as a leading private markets firm. Axel joins from McKinsey & Company, where he spent 26 years, most recently serving as Senior Partner, Global ExCo member and Global Leader of Functional Practices, responsible for $15bn in revenues and over 10,000 McKinsey consultants globally.

“Axel brings unparalleled international experience from his more than two decades at McKinsey, advising leading global companies spanning Real Estate, Infrastructure, Digital, and Credit sectors” says Håkan Johansson, Chair of Niam Group. “His strong leadership and client focus will be instrumental as we continue to build a first-class team and expand our investment platform in Northern Europe and continue to deliver strong returns for our investors.”

In his new role Axel will lead Niam’s next phase of growth and accelerate the firm’s transformation from a leading Nordic real estate specialist into a multi-strategy investor. He will oversee Niam Group’s strategic development across Real Estate, Infrastructure, Credit and Private Equity, driving sustainable long-term value for investors and the communities Niam serves.

Axel Karlsson adds: “I am excited to join Niam at this pivotal moment. The firm’s deep local expertise, disciplined approach, and focus on long-term value creation present significant opportunities to its investors. I look forward to collaborating with the team, investors, and communities to realize the full potential of Niam’s investment platform.”

Axel will assume his role as CEO in December 2025. His appointment is announced alongside the appointment of Max Ilmoni as Deputy CEO and Head of Capital Formation & Investor Relations, with both announcements being made today.