The new head of Allianz Global Investors’ €18 billion alternatives unit is eyeing acquisitions and team hires in the private debt and liquid alternative space, further underscoring the broader buyside appetite for expanding into non-traditional asset classes.

In her first interview since assuming the role on June 1, Deborah Zurkow told Financial News that "everything is on the table" in terms of expansion options for the firm's alternatives unit. In July, Andreas Utermann, Allianz Global Investors' chief executive, said that the €521 billion German fund manager was looking to add to its liquid and non-public market capabilities.