Expert Details
Business Development, Strategy; International
ID: 737001
Netherlands
Until July 2021, he was in charge of Business development and Fundraising for the leading European hyperloop company. For this role, he was leading the effort to engage the European Union, leading governments, and sovereign funds in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In his fundraising role, he was in contact with the worlds' leading investors in disruptive technologies. Previously he advised one of the leading global petrochemical/ fertiliser companies- Sabic on corporate venturing to further enhance their pipeline, processes, management of existing project companies. He initiated Sabic's corporate research spinout efforts. Over the past few years he has developed detailed knowledge on the Saudi economy and how to localise businesses in Saudi Arabia.
Prior to this, he was the founding MD of the first tech VC, based in Oman with a global mandate. He set up and structured this $125 mln fund, with funding from leading SWF in Oman such as SGRF, Oman Oil and Oman Telecom. He also advised the government of Oman on Commercialization and Innovation.
In 2012-2015 he was the Deputy CEO of a leading engineering/ construction company focused on infrastructure- roads, ports, railways, airports, electricity transmission, sports stadiums. He led the business development function leading to over $1 bn in new orders. He was also the CEO of a PPP company that was prequalified for a number of leading road and infrastructure-related projects. He was a Board director in a 5-star hotel development project, as well as led on evaluating a Rotterdam-based oil tank farm.
In 2008-2012 he was a Managing Director at Rusnano focused on global VC/PE technology investments and funded by a SWF. During his 4+ years there he built up a team that originated, structured 15 PE/VC investments, at the same time he set up management to whom he provided strategic direction. He made investments in IPG Photonics (NASDAQ listed) and Quantenna, amongst many others, both are now unicorns. The value-added he brought to these companies enabled them to become more successful resulting in a number of successful exits (annual 20-1800%).
In 2006-2008, he established and led, as Head of Capital Markets for Russia and CIS, a critical new area for Jones Lang LaSalle. He was responsible for creating a team that focuses on debt, equity advisory in real estate as well as sale and purchase of commercial real estate assets and infrastructure advisory. His experience in PE and project finance was built during 6 years in the EBRD in London and 2 years with Lehman Brothers in New York.
In 2000-2006, he led the efforts of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in oil and gas, mining and infrastructure. He was responsible for a leading LNG project- Sakhalin II, gas pipeline, port, and mining investments in Europe and MENA.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 1998 | Degree: MBA | Subject: Business Administraion | Institution: Cornell University |
Year: 1998 | Degree: M.Phil | Subject: International Relations (Law and Economics) | Institution: Cambridge University |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 2021 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Founder | Department: Founder |
Responsibilities:He currently works with 4 startups: (1) Developing a mobility data marketplace, (2) An agtech and cUAS company using Lidar and ML for insect and drone identification, with a focus on greenhouses, vertical farms, plant nurseries, cannabis. (3) A precision irrigation company, (4) An Arabic speech-to-text company. He is a startup/ scaleup mentor in the US (Alchemist, Cornell Tech) and Europe (PortXL, TuDelft, Rockstart, Oxford University). He has been asked to judge startups for Alchemist, XtremeTechChallenge, MassChallenge. He advises the Investment promotion agencies of Oman and Cyprus on measures to increase investment attractiveness. He is in process of helping launch an on-demand trucking company in Africa and an EVTOL route planning tool. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2019 to 2021 | Employer: Hardt Hyperloop | Title: Head of Business Development | Department: BD |
Responsibilities:In charge of Business Development and Fundraising for Hardt Hyperloop, the leading European hyperloop company. For this role, he is leading the effort to engage the European Union, leading governments, and sovereign funds in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In his fundraising role, he is in contact with the world's leading investors in disruptive technologies. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2018 to 2020 | Employer: Sabic | Title: Global Head of Incubation | Department: Venture capital and JV |
Responsibilities:Advised one of the leading global petrochemical/fertilizer companies- Sabic on corporate venturing to further enhance their pipeline, processes, management of existing project companies. He initiated Sabic's corporate research spinout efforts. Over the past few years, he has developed a detailed knowledge of the Saudi economy and how to localize businesses in Saudi Arabia. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2015 to 2016 | Employer: Oman Investment Authority | Title: MD of IDO | Department: IDO |
Responsibilities:Founding MD of Innovation Development Oman the first tech VC, based in Oman with a global mandate. He set up and structured this $125 mln fund, with funding from leading SWF in Oman such as SGRF, Oman Oil, and Oman Telecom. He also advised the government of Oman on Commercialization and Innovation. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2012 to 2015 | Employer: Novatorinvest | Title: CEO | Department: Business |
Responsibilities:Deputy CEO of a leading engineering/ construction company focused on infrastructure- roads, ports, railways, airports, electricity transmission, sports stadiums. He led the business development function leading to over $1 bn in new orders. He was also the CEO of a PPP company that was prequalified for a number of leading road and infrastructure-related projects. He was a Board director in a 5-star hotel development project, as well as led on evaluating a Rotterdam-based oil tank farm. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2008 to 2012 | Employer: Rusnano | Title: MD | Department: Investment |
Responsibilities:Managing Director at Rusnano focused on global VC/PE technology investments and funded by an SWF. During his 4+ years there he built up a team that originated, structured 15 PE/VC investments, at the same time he set up management to whom he provided strategic direction. He made investments in IPG Photonics (NASDAQ listed) and Quantenna, amongst many others, both are now unicorns. The value-added he brought to these companies enabled them to become more successful resulting in a number of successful exits (annual 20-1800%). |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2006 to 2008 | Employer: JonesLang LaSalle | Title: Head fo Capital Markets | Department: Capital Markets |
Responsibilities:Established and led, as Head of Capital Markets for Russia and CIS, a critical new area for Jones Lang LaSalle. He was responsible for creating a team that focuses on debt, equity advisory in real estate as well as sale and purchase of commercial real estate assets and infrastructure advisory. His experience in PE and project finance was built during 6 years in the EBRD in London and 2 years with Lehman Brothers in New York. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2000 to 2005 | Employer: EBRD | Title: Principal Banker | Department: Investment |
Responsibilities:Led the efforts of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure. He was responsible for a leading LNG project- Sakhalin II, gas pipeline, port, and mining investments in Europe and MENA. |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
---|---|
Greek | Fluent |
Russian | Fluent |
English | Fluent |