Manuel Kessler, CPM
Experienced Asset Portfolio Manager
Leobendorf
Summary
Dynamic Asset and Portfolio Manager with 20+ years of expertise in wealth management, real estate development and portfolio optimization, complemented by 10 years of entrepreneurial experience. Certified Portfolio Manager (CPM) with a proven track record in equities, fixed income, funds, commodities, FX, options & futures, and equity lending. Currently expanding expertise through a part-time MBA with focus on Real Estate Management and AI, combining academic advancement with daily professional practice. Strong background in project management, change management, business process management as well as leadership, HR and time management. Skilled in managing complex portfolios, driving financial growth and delivering tailored investment strategies across Germany, Romania, and the UAE. Based in Austria, fully committed to relocating to the UAE with Emirates ID and immediate availability.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
CEO
WWLA GmbH
01.2023 - 12.2024
- Strategic and operational leadership of the company, with a strong focus on sales and project management in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) sector.
- Responsible for 60 employees and an annual turnover of €8.5 million.
- Drove profitability with thorough financial analysis and strategic decisionmaking.
- Revenue increased from €7.1 million to €8.7 million
- Established new revenue streams by identifying market opportunities and launching innovative products or services.
- EBIT improved from 9.1% to 11.2%.
- The leadership style was characterized by a high level of empathy, adaptability, and a strong team spirit, enabling effective cross-departmental collaboration and motivation.
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
CEO
BEAR INVEST Real GmbH
01.2017 - 01.2024
- As part of the investment and consulting firm BEAR INVEST Real GmbH, I held an advisory and decision-making role.
- Single-family office with total assets of €50 million across all asset classes
- In a joint venture with subsidiaries, I managed a €20 million real estate portfolio.
- As CEO of these subsidiaries, I oversaw the development of a total of 17,000 m² of commercial real estate, and the construction of a modern cold storage facility in Vienna.
- Under my leadership, all projects were delivered on time and within budget, achieving a fixed average interest rate of 1.17% over 20 years, ensuring sustainable and predictable returns.
- Strong analytical thinking, a high level of risk awareness, and negotiation skills.
- Managed partnerships and strategic business relationships by negotiating contract terms and handling conflicts.
Stock Trader
Varengold Bank
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Advised and managed high-net-worth clients.
- Collaborated with team members to identify new trading strategies, resulting in higher profit margins.
- The average portfolio is approximately €15 million per client in equity trading and investment strategies.
- Executed buy and sell transactions with a focus on dividend-paying stocks to generate income.
- Oversaw equity lending processes to optimize portfolio efficiency and liquidity.
- Conducted detailed portfolio analyses and developed tailored futures and options strategies, including covered call and short put writing.
- Targeting returns of 3–5%, depending on market volatility.
- Increased overall portfolio returns by analyzing market trends and executing strategic trades.
Equity Trader
Erste Bank AG
01.2010 - 01.2016
- Executed trading activities across various asset classes and structured products.
- Focus on market timing and value trading
- Equity segment trading limits were set at €50 million, with individual positions ranging from 1% to 5% of the limit.
- Supported market-making activities to ensure liquidity, and maintain competitive bid-ask spreads
- Managed equity lending transactions to enhance portfolio returns and support short-selling strategies
- During peak periods, the book was open for up to €500 million with individual positions of up to 20%.
- Reduced transaction costs by negotiating favorable commission rates with brokers and other market participants.
Derivatives Sales Team
Erste Bank AG
01.2006 - 01.2010
- In Derivatives Sales, I was responsible for the execution of options and futures transactions for a diverse range of institutional clients, including insurance companies, fund managers, and major international banks, such as Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and the Bank of America.
- Handled execution sizes ranging from small orders to large-scale trades of up to 5,000 contracts, for example, German Curve, US Curve, etc. But across various instruments worldwide.
- Focus was on delivering precise, timely execution while maintaining strong client relationships and market awareness.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
Education
MBA - Managment & Real Estate
Fachhochschule Kärnten
Remote12-2025
Post-Graduate Certificate - Entrepreneurship
WKO
Vienna05-2019
Post-Graduate Certificate - Real Estate Trustee
WIFI
Vienna05-2018
Post-Graduate Certificate - Certified Portfolio Manager
VÖIG
Vienna05-2017
Skills
- Effective team leadership
- Strategic decision-making
- Risk assessment
- Mergers expertise
- Employee talent development
- Budget oversight
- CRM expertise
- Business growth strategy
- Performance metric tracking
- Data-driven analysis
- Developing trading strategies
- Efficient order execution
Timeline
CEO
WWLA GmbH
01.2023 - 12.2024
CEO
BEAR INVEST Real GmbH
01.2017 - 01.2024
Stock Trader
Varengold Bank
01.2016 - 01.2017
Equity Trader
Erste Bank AG
01.2010 - 01.2016
Derivatives Sales Team
Erste Bank AG
01.2006 - 01.2010
MBA - Managment & Real Estate
Fachhochschule Kärnten
Post-Graduate Certificate - Entrepreneurship
WKO
Post-Graduate Certificate - Real Estate Trustee
WIFI
Post-Graduate Certificate - Certified Portfolio Manager
VÖIG
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