Goldman Sachs appoints young(ish) MD to replace retiring partner

Goldman Sachs is bidding farewell to one of its senior European M&A bankers, who has been a part of the firm for 15 years. Johannes (Jan) Fritze, a London-based partner who made the move from Citi to Goldman Sachs in 2010, is set to retire. Fritze has spearheaded Goldman’s real estate divisions in EMEA and APAC.

To fill Fritze’s shoes, Goldman Sachs has appointed two individuals, including an unexpected choice. Heiko Weber and Trent Wilkins will be taking over the reins as the new co-heads of EMEA real estate at the firm. While Weber is a seasoned real estate banker who began his journey at Goldman as an analyst in 2005, Wilkins brings a unique background to the table. Wilkins, a managing director, previously co-led the corporate origination group in EMEA with roots in debt capital markets (DCM).

Wilkins, a graduate from the London School of Economics in 2011, is estimated to be in his mid to late 30s. His rapid rise within the organization is remarkable, although not quite on par with Kunal Shah, who achieved partner status as a trader at the age of 32 in 2014. Progressing in investment banking typically takes time, and Wilkins’ recent elevation to co-head of EMEA corporate investment grade origination indicates a quick transition into a new role within M&A, marking his second major position change in under a year.

Goldman Sachs has chosen not to provide any official comments on these appointments. Nevertheless, Wilkins’ trajectory may position him for partnership at Goldman Sachs by the year 2026. Notably, the firm disclosed that the average tenure of their partners is 16 years, emphasizing the significance of his potential promotion. Having joined Goldman from Barclays in 2018, a partnership by 2026 would signify an accelerated path within the firm.

Wilkins’ unexpected move into the M&A realm highlights his agility and adaptability within the industry. With his diverse background and swift advancement, Wilkins may be on track to make a significant impact as he navigates the path toward partnership at Goldman Sachs.