Dirk Schumacher Managing Director and Head of European Macro Research Natixis

Dirk Schumacher is a Managing Director and Head of European Macro Research at Natixis. He joined the firm in early 2018. Prior to that, he worked in the European Central Bank’s Economic Department, where he worked mainly on the development of briefing notes for board meetings. Before joining the ECB, Dirk Schumacher worked for 17 years at Goldman Sachs at Economic Research in Frankfurt and London.

Colin Ellis Managing Director, Global Credit Strategist Moody's Ratings

Colin Ellis is Moody’s first Global Credit Strategist, and a Managing Director in the Credit Strategy team. 

In his current role, Colin provides thought leadership for the rating agency that deepens the understanding of ratings and debt capital markets through rigorous and quantitative research. He leads Moody’s teams working on default and ratings analytics and on global financial analysis, including bank projections and stress testing. Colin is also a member of Moody’s Macroeconomic Board, which sets the global forecasts that underpin Moody’s universe of ratings.

Colin joined Moody’s in February 2012, initially leading the work of the Macroeconomic Board and authoring the quarterly Global Macro Outlook. He subsequently worked in the Financial Institutions Group, developing quantitative forward-looking analyses. For 8 years he was the Chief Credit Officer for EMEA, leading analysis and coordination of credit and ratings across all rating franchises in the region. He was also the ‘Head of UK’ for MIS, responsible for the running of Moody’s UK operations, from 2019-2022 including the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Prior to joining Moody’s, Colin held roles at the Bank of England, Daiwa Capital Markets, the BVCA and at Birmingham University. He has published papers on a range of topics including corporate investment and pricing, credit risk, private equity, data uncertainty, stress testing, financial contagion and monetary policy. Colin holds degrees from York University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Middlesex University. He is a Visiting Professor at Hult International Business School and LSBU, and is also a Fellow of the RSA.

Dietmar Hornung Associate Managing Director, Sovereign Risk Moody's Ratings

Dietmar Hornung, Associate Managing Director, leads the Sovereign Risk Group’s European team, covering the European countries and the European supranationals. Prior to his appointment as team leader, Dietmar was Moody’s lead analyst on a number of European sovereign credits, including Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Russia, EU, EFSF and ESM.

Before joining Moody’s in 2007, Dietmar was Head of Emerging Market Research for DekaBank in Frankfurt.

Dietmar holds a Doctorate summa cum laude in Economics from Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg. He received a Masters degree from Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel after studies in Kiel, at the University of Miami, and at the Eberhard-Karls University in Tübingen.

Dietmar is a Certified EFFAS Financial Analyst (CEFA).

Alexander Hendricks Associate Managing Director, EMEA Banking Moody's Investors Service

Alexander Hendricks is an Associate Managing Director in Moody’s European Banking team. Alexander has responsibility for the analytical teams covering financial institutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He joined Moody’s in 2013.

Prior to Moody’s, Alexander’s most recent role was Director in Company Research at Deutsche Bank, where he had responsibility for financial institutions in Germany and Austria, and co-responsibility for European investment banks. In addition, he acted as hub for European regulatory matters in research.

During his occupation at the German bank, Alexander also held responsibilities for real estate companies and stock exchanges in Germany. At previous employer ABN Amro, Alexander covered German and Austrian banks in equity research. He began his career as trainee at Deutsche Bank.

Alexander holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (Diplom- Kaufmann) from University of Mannheim, with specialisation in Banking and Finance. He is a CFA charterholder.

Anke Rindermann Associate Managing Director, Corporate Finance Moody's Investors Service

Anke Rindermann is an Associate Managing Director in the Corporate Finance Group and has been with Moody’s in Frankfurt since 2007.

Anke is managing a team of analysts covering Moody’s European real estate franchise. In addition, she is leading a team of analysts focusing on leisure, shipping, auto suppliers and forest products industries.

Prior roles at Moody’s included lead analyst responsibility for European paper and forest products companies, industrial gases manufacturers and cross-over packaging companies in EMEA.

Before joining Moody’s, Anke spent several years working in Credit Risk Management at Commerzbank in Frankfurt and New York and before that at Deutsche Bank. She studied at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and at the University of Queensland in Australia, and holds a degree in Business Administration. Anke is a chartered Financial Risk Manager and a Certified Credit Analyst (DVFA).

Andrew Blease Associate Managing Director, Project & Infrastructure Finance Moody's Investors Service

Andrew Blease is an Associate Managing Director in Moody’s EMEA Infrastructure team, based in Paris, and responsible for a team of analysts covering transport infrastructure across EMEA and utilities in central and eastern Europe.

Over the course of a long career at Moody’s, Andrew has acted as lead analyst for a broad range of infrastructure and project finance issuers. He has followed the transport infrastructure sector since joining Moody’s in 2000, and has been instrumental in the development of Moody’s rating methodologies, having authored the first global airport methodology and co-authored the first PFI/PPP construction period methodology. He played a key role in the development of the EMEA Infrastructure team having been involved in the first ratings in the sector and subsequently in building the franchise. Andrew is a frequent speaker at conferences and other events, and has been called as an expert witness to various Government related enquiries through the course of his Moody’s career.

Prior to joining Moody’s Andrew spent his career in international banking, predominantly at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Over this period he was involved in both the advisory and debt-arranging of project finance transactions, predominantly in the PFI and transport sectors.

Andrew studied finance at London Metropolitan University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

Jorge Rodriguez-Valez Senior Vice President, Credit Strategy & Research Moody's Investors Service

Jorge Rodriguez-Valez is a Senior Vice President in Moody’s Credit Strategy & Research team in London. Since he joined Moody’s in 2014, he leads the Financial Analytics team, developing quantitative forward-looking analyses of sectors and institutions, including modelling asset quality trends and stress testing.

Prior to joining Moody’s in 2014, Jorge worked as a macroeconomist responsible for forecasting and scenario analysis, and as a university lecturer in macroeconomics and econometrics.

Jorge is a PhD in Econometrics and holds degrees in Economics and in Business.

Dirk Schumacher Managing Director and Head of European Macro Research Natixis

Dirk Schumacher is a Managing Director and Head of European Macro Research at Natixis. He joined the firm in early 2018. Prior to that, he worked in the European Central Bank’s Economic Department, where he worked mainly on the development of briefing notes for board meetings. Before joining the ECB, Dirk Schumacher worked for 17 years at Goldman Sachs at Economic Research in Frankfurt and London.

Colin Ellis Managing Director, Global Credit Strategist Moody's Ratings

Colin Ellis is Moody’s first Global Credit Strategist, and a Managing Director in the Credit Strategy team. 

In his current role, Colin provides thought leadership for the rating agency that deepens the understanding of ratings and debt capital markets through rigorous and quantitative research. He leads Moody’s teams working on default and ratings analytics and on global financial analysis, including bank projections and stress testing. Colin is also a member of Moody’s Macroeconomic Board, which sets the global forecasts that underpin Moody’s universe of ratings.

Colin joined Moody’s in February 2012, initially leading the work of the Macroeconomic Board and authoring the quarterly Global Macro Outlook. He subsequently worked in the Financial Institutions Group, developing quantitative forward-looking analyses. For 8 years he was the Chief Credit Officer for EMEA, leading analysis and coordination of credit and ratings across all rating franchises in the region. He was also the ‘Head of UK’ for MIS, responsible for the running of Moody’s UK operations, from 2019-2022 including the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Prior to joining Moody’s, Colin held roles at the Bank of England, Daiwa Capital Markets, the BVCA and at Birmingham University. He has published papers on a range of topics including corporate investment and pricing, credit risk, private equity, data uncertainty, stress testing, financial contagion and monetary policy. Colin holds degrees from York University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Middlesex University. He is a Visiting Professor at Hult International Business School and LSBU, and is also a Fellow of the RSA.

Dietmar Hornung Associate Managing Director, Sovereign Risk Moody's Ratings

Dietmar Hornung, Associate Managing Director, leads the Sovereign Risk Group’s European team, covering the European countries and the European supranationals. Prior to his appointment as team leader, Dietmar was Moody’s lead analyst on a number of European sovereign credits, including Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Russia, EU, EFSF and ESM.

Before joining Moody’s in 2007, Dietmar was Head of Emerging Market Research for DekaBank in Frankfurt.

Dietmar holds a Doctorate summa cum laude in Economics from Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg. He received a Masters degree from Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel after studies in Kiel, at the University of Miami, and at the Eberhard-Karls University in Tübingen.

Dietmar is a Certified EFFAS Financial Analyst (CEFA).

Anke Rindermann Associate Managing Director, Corporate Finance Moody's Investors Service

Anke Rindermann is an Associate Managing Director in the Corporate Finance Group and has been with Moody’s in Frankfurt since 2007.

Anke is managing a team of analysts covering Moody’s European real estate franchise. In addition, she is leading a team of analysts focusing on leisure, shipping, auto suppliers and forest products industries.

Prior roles at Moody’s included lead analyst responsibility for European paper and forest products companies, industrial gases manufacturers and cross-over packaging companies in EMEA.

Before joining Moody’s, Anke spent several years working in Credit Risk Management at Commerzbank in Frankfurt and New York and before that at Deutsche Bank. She studied at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and at the University of Queensland in Australia, and holds a degree in Business Administration. Anke is a chartered Financial Risk Manager and a Certified Credit Analyst (DVFA).

Andrew Blease Associate Managing Director, Project & Infrastructure Finance Moody's Investors Service

Andrew Blease is an Associate Managing Director in Moody’s EMEA Infrastructure team, based in Paris, and responsible for a team of analysts covering transport infrastructure across EMEA and utilities in central and eastern Europe.

Over the course of a long career at Moody’s, Andrew has acted as lead analyst for a broad range of infrastructure and project finance issuers. He has followed the transport infrastructure sector since joining Moody’s in 2000, and has been instrumental in the development of Moody’s rating methodologies, having authored the first global airport methodology and co-authored the first PFI/PPP construction period methodology. He played a key role in the development of the EMEA Infrastructure team having been involved in the first ratings in the sector and subsequently in building the franchise. Andrew is a frequent speaker at conferences and other events, and has been called as an expert witness to various Government related enquiries through the course of his Moody’s career.

Prior to joining Moody’s Andrew spent his career in international banking, predominantly at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Over this period he was involved in both the advisory and debt-arranging of project finance transactions, predominantly in the PFI and transport sectors.

Andrew studied finance at London Metropolitan University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers

Alexander Hendricks Associate Managing Director, EMEA Banking Moody's Investors Service

Alexander Hendricks is an Associate Managing Director in Moody’s European Banking team. Alexander has responsibility for the analytical teams covering financial institutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He joined Moody’s in 2013.

Prior to Moody’s, Alexander’s most recent role was Director in Company Research at Deutsche Bank, where he had responsibility for financial institutions in Germany and Austria, and co-responsibility for European investment banks. In addition, he acted as hub for European regulatory matters in research.

During his occupation at the German bank, Alexander also held responsibilities for real estate companies and stock exchanges in Germany. At previous employer ABN Amro, Alexander covered German and Austrian banks in equity research. He began his career as trainee at Deutsche Bank.

Alexander holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (Diplom- Kaufmann) from University of Mannheim, with specialisation in Banking and Finance. He is a CFA charterholder.

Jorge Rodriguez-Valez Senior Vice President, Credit Strategy & Research Moody's Investors Service

Jorge Rodriguez-Valez is a Senior Vice President in Moody’s Credit Strategy & Research team in London. Since he joined Moody’s in 2014, he leads the Financial Analytics team, developing quantitative forward-looking analyses of sectors and institutions, including modelling asset quality trends and stress testing.

Prior to joining Moody’s in 2014, Jorge worked as a macroeconomist responsible for forecasting and scenario analysis, and as a university lecturer in macroeconomics and econometrics.

Jorge is a PhD in Econometrics and holds degrees in Economics and in Business.