MARTIN EMODI Managing Partner
Martin has worked in financial services all his professional life and specialises in wealth management. For more than 20 years, he held executive positions at UBS in Emerging Markets where he most recently headed its African business with teams in Zurich, London, Lagos and Dubai. As a member of the UBS Emerging Markets (EM) Management Committee for several years, Martin led and established the EM Sales function. He also led globally UBS’ North Latin America including Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and Central America. Martin has extensive experience of working in Africa having worked closely with leading entrepreneurs from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He has a deep understanding of the local market having spent a significant amount of time on the continent getting to know the entrepreneurs in their environment.
Martin understands what an African entrepreneur needs to become even more successful having supported many through a vast array of challenges with creative solutions and strategies. He is a huge believer in the African opportunity and feels culturally entirely at ease in Africa.
Martin holds an MBA from HSG St. Gallen and is fluent in English, German, Swedish, Spanish and French.
AYOTOLA AYODEJI Associate Partner
Ayotola is a proficient and astute lawyer having been in the profession since 1992 when she practiced at Olaniwun Ajayi & Co.
She obtained BSC honours in Mass Communications from the University of Lagos and practiced briefly as a journalist before embarking on a career in law.
After completing her LLM in International Commercial law she became a law lecturer at the University of Westminster where she taught Criminal Law, Law of International Trade and Marine Insurance. She also lectured at the London Metropolitan University where she taught Carriage of Goods by Sea in the LLM Maritime Law Program.
She is a partner at Vita Veritas LLP, a commercial law firm based in Lagos. She is also director and Co-Chairman of African Newspapers Nigeria, publishers of the Nigerian Tribune.
Ayotola is also a licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria as a Capital Market Operator (Solicitor).
Ayotola enjoys generating ideas for development and wealth creation. Furthermore is reputed for being able to deliver a whole array of professional services at peak standards, this includes articulate drafting of contracts. She is a proficient writer, with talent and expertise in drafting, strategy, formulation and policy making.
OUR ADVISORY BOARD
Ari Sengupta
Ari has extensive operational and consulting experience across a multitude of sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, India and the UK.
Previous positions held include – Group Managing Director (Chicason Group, Nigeria), Executive Director – Emerging Markets M&A (EY Corporate Finance, Dubai), Partner (Emerging Opportunity Consulting, London & Dubai).
Engaging with stakeholders to conceive deliverable growth strategies, develop successful businesses, structure implementation and roll-out programs across medium sized and family owned businesses has been his forte. He is familiar and has a deep understanding of Family Businesses.
A product of the prestigious St. Xavier’s College, University of Calcutta,India he went on to do his post graduate studies while being a management trainee with the Oberoi Group of Hotels in New Delhi, India.
A citizen of United Kingdom, he lives in Hertfordshire.
Michael Moquette, Equinoxe SA
Mr. Moquette is the Managing Partner of Equinoxe Investments SA, a private family office, through which he holds a number of investments in private and public companies in Africa, Australasia, North America and Europe. He arranges and leads investments on behalf of other family offices and is currently the Trustee and Chairman of two major family trusts and director of a number of companies.
Michael has over 20 years’ experience of commercial and investment banking globally, within the CIBC Group, where he led the bank's trade and project financing activities and later was responsible for a large part of the group's Investment banking operations and latterly Wealth Managment.
Educated in Canada, México and the UK and holds several professional qualifications.
He resides in Geneva Switzerland with his wife Atalanti.
Barend Petersen, Chairman De Beers Mining
Barend is a chartered accountant with broad international experience in mining, energy, finance, stakeholder relations, business turnarounds, corporate recovery and corporate governance.
Barend is a director of several companies including Anglo American South Africa and Currow Holdings Limited. He is a shareholder in Ponahalo Capital, which owns a 50 per cent stake in Ponahalo Investments, the black economic empowerment partner of De Beers Consolidated Mines. He is the Chairman of Sizwe Business Recoveries, which he founded in 1997.
OUR CREDENTIALS
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Over 50 years of banking experience across investment banking and wealth management in Zurich, Geneva, London, New York, Lisbon, Milan and Toronto
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Profound knowledge of Africa having run the UBS Wealth Management business on the continent
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Unrivalled network of private investors and families both in Africa and internationally
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A trusted network of global financial specialists
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A deep understanding of family businesses including their opportunities and challenges, having advised a large number of them across different continents
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Very strong intercultural background having lived and worked in many countries
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A real passion for Africa and its opportunities