Governance Symbiotics Investments

Board member of Symbiotics Investments since June 2022, Stephane Daillencourt had a long carrier in the aviation industry, purchasing, selling, financing and leasing commercial aircraft. He has a deep management experience gained in senior leadership positions across a diverse range of companies in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore. In his most recent positions, he was executive vice president at GE Capital Aviation Services and CEO of Asian Aviation Capital in Singapore. He has a strong capital markets and structured finance background. He hold a MBA from École des hautes études commerciales in Paris and a law degree from University of Paris Sceaux.

Dr. Matthias von Bismarck-Osten is an impact investing advisor with a focus on technology and development. He is a member of the advisory board of GreenTec Capital Partners and the GreenTec Capital Africa Foundation (of which he is the Chairman). In 2020, he was a Fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, South Africa, with a research project on IT platforms for smallholder farmers in Africa. Dr. Matthias von Bismarck-Osten pursued a career in development banking from 1990-2020 (EBRD, IBB), with some intervening years in commercial and investment banking. He has gained extensive experience in supporting start-ups (e.g. as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IBB-Ventures) and in development politics, as Chairman of Oxfam Germany 2007-2017 and member of the Finance and Risk Committee of Oxfam International (honorary posts). He is an economist by training (PhD from University of Munich).

Jennifer Blanke is former Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development of the African Development Bank, responsible for strategy and lending in agriculture and agroindustry; water and sanitation; and education and healthcare, as well as the transversal themes of job creation and gender empowerment. Prior to that she was Chief Economist at the World Economic Forum, overseeing economic research and analysis. She has also worked as a management consultant in the banking and finance sector for Eurogroup Consulting in Paris and was a member of the Canadian Government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth. She holds a BA in International Relations from Hamilton College; a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University; and a PhD in International Economics from the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Me David Ledermann is an expert on corporate law, M&A and financing transactions with a particular emphasis on complex equity financing for privately held companies, convertible debt financing and debt financing backed by traditional and non-traditional assets. He regularly advises Swiss and international investors, borrowers and lenders. David joined Lenz & Staehlin in Geneva in 1999 to become a partner in 2007. He holds a degree in Law from the University of Geneva and an LL.M. degree from Duke University School of Law.

Since 2013 partner of a Single Family Office (SFO) in the Netherlands. Prior to founding the SFO, Bart worked 20 years at ABNAMRO Bank in different positions in different countries. Of which 13 years at ABNAMRO Asset Management. He was board member of different ABNAMRO mutual funds as well as board member of Association Luxembourgoise des Fonds d’Investissement (ALFI) in Luxembourg. He is still a member of the Supervisory Board of ABNAMRO Investment Solutions in Paris. Bart also worked for Morningstar Inc. for four years. He holds a master’s degree in Economics of the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. He is also a certified financial analyst.

Yvan joined Symbiotics in 2005. Prior to this, he worked for BlueOrchard Finance where he was investment analyst and then chief operations officer. Before this, he was a microfinance consultant in Peru and a small enterprise consultant in Western Africa and worked as a fund accountant and project manager at Capital International in Geneva. Yvan holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Geneva and a master’s degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics.

Vincent joined Symbiotics in 2007 first serving as an investment analyst covering Latin America and E. Europe and later for W. Africa. Previously, he worked for Nestlé, as a supply chain and operational project manager in S. America and E. Europe, as a logistician with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supporting operations in Angola, Sudan and Russia and as a business consultant for IBM. Vincent holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Elitsa Georgieva joined Symbiotics in 2010 as an investment analyst covering Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. She later transitioned to deal origination as a pipeline manager, overseeing Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia. In 2017, she took the lead in establishing and managing the newly formed Risk and Recovery team, which she headed for the next eight years. Elitsa has 19 years of experience in micro- and SME finance in developing countries. Before joining Symbiotics, she worked as an independent consultant, providing advisory services to microfinance institutions, SME lenders, and their shareholders. Prior to that, she was an IPC consultant at ProCredit banks in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Elitsa holds a degree in finance, banking, and development economics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main.

Salvador joined Symbiotics Investments in 2023. He is a seasoned executive in the banking and wealth management industry. His career, spanning over two decades, began at UBS SA and was followed by an extensive tenure at BNP Paribas Wealth Management. At BNP Paribas, he held multiple roles including Head of Marketing & Global Advisory and Global Head of Investment Services Marketing, and Heat of Client Experience & Marketing. Salvador then served as the Head of Client Experience at Edmond de Rothschild SA before his current role at Symbiotics. His expertise lies in sales and business development, customer experience and digital transformation. He holds a master's degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute in Geneva.

Philipp is Head of Structuring at Symbiotics UK Limited, where he joined in 2013. Prior to this, he worked for Standard & Poor’s in the structured finance ratings department (CLOs, CDOs, Securitisations, Swaps) and for the European Investment Bank group. Philipp holds a degree in economics from the University of St. Gallen (CH), a degree in International Management from the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS) and a graduate diploma in English law (Hons) from the University of Law.