ICG CEO Wins Inaugural Leadership Alpha Award
Independent jury selects Benoît Durteste as first recipient of award launched by executive search firm Eleway for European asset management leaders.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in People
An independent international jury unanimously named Benoît Durteste, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of ICG, as the first recipient of the 2026 Leadership Alpha Award. The award was announced in Zurich on Wednesday.
Why it matters
The award honors leaders who make a sustainable contribution to their companies beyond short-term business success. It is the first edition of an honor Eleway launched for European asset management leaders, assessed on five criteria.
The award is assessed across five criteria, and Durteste has led ICG as CEO and CIO since 2017. The source does not specify the other candidates or how scores were weighted.
The players
Benoît Durteste
Benoît Durteste is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of ICG, a private markets investment firm he has led since 2017.
Eleway
Eleway is an executive search and board advisory firm that launched the Leadership Alpha Award for European asset management leaders.
The details
The jury cited Durteste's combination of growth, investment philosophy, and entrepreneurial culture, along with his commitment to talent development and long-term orientation. Under his leadership, ICG expanded from structured financing into a broadly diversified private markets investment firm.
Timeline
2017: Durteste becomes CEO and Chief Investment Officer of ICG.
Wednesday: Leadership Alpha Award winner announced in Zurich.
Market Landscape
The Leadership Alpha Award is a new recognition in the European asset management sector, where firms compete for talent and investor trust. Durteste's recognition highlights ICG's shift from structured financing into a diversified private markets firm.
For investors and clients of ICG, the recognition reflects leadership continuity since 2017 under Durteste. The award does not change product offerings or pricing for clients.
The takeaway
Leadership recognition in asset management increasingly weighs governance, talent development and long-term orientation alongside investment results. Readers following the sector can watch how these criteria shape future selections.
Further reading
Explore more People profiles of business leaders shaping global markets.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Finews.
