Managing Partner of the Pictet Group from 1987 to 2016, Jacques de Saussure acted as Senior Managing Partner from 2010 until his retirement in June 2016. Until 2014, he remained a Member of the Supervisory Board of Pictet Group SCA as well as a member of the board of directors of its asset management subsidiary, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA.
During his banking career, Jacques served on the board of several entities at the core of the Swiss financial services industry, including the Swiss Bankers Association, the Swiss Stock Exchange and SIX Group AG, as well as its subsidiary EUREX AG.
Jacques holds a degree in Greek and Latin from Collège Calvin in Geneva, a degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and an MBA in Finance from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Beth Krasna
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Beth Krasna
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Ms. Krasna is the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Ethos Services SA and member of the Council of AVICEN SA. She is also an executive coach at ExCo Leadership.
Previously, she served as the Chairwoman of the Foundation Board of IHEID (Geneva Graduate Institute), Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Federal Railways (CFF), Vice Chairwoman, and later President of the Ecoles Polytechniques Fédérales, and member of the Councils of BCV, COOP, Bonnard & Gardel Holding, Alcosuisse AG, Raymond Weil, Xsensio SA and Università della Svizzera italiana. She was also the CEO of 3 industrial companies and 1 software company.
She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from EPFZ and an MBA from the Sloan School at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
David Ledermann
SECRETARY
David Ledermann
SECRETARY
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.
Jennifer Blanke
DIRECTOR
Jennifer Blanke
DIRECTOR
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.
Stéphane Daillencourt
DIRECTOR
Stéphane Daillencourt
DIRECTOR
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 holds an MBA from École des hautes études commerciales in Paris and a law degree from University of Paris Sceaux.
Antoine Delaporte
DIRECTOR
Antoine Delaporte
DIRECTOR
Antoine Delaporte is the Founder and Chairman of Adenia Partners, a private equity firm specializing in Africa since 2002. With a presence in eight African countries, Adenia Partners has raised over USD 1.2 billion across six investment funds. By supporting entrepreneurs and management teams, Adenia helps African companies grow, actively contributing to the continent’s economic development. A key player in responsible investment in Africa, Adenia adheres to the highest ESG standards in all its investments. Through 38 company acquisitions and 21 exits over the past 22 years, Adenia has consistently generated double-digit financial returns while delivering significant positive impacts in its countries of operation.
Previously, Antoine Delaporte was an entrepreneur in Madagascar, where he developed three companies employing over 2,500 people. He began his career at Bain & Co., working in Paris and then London. He holds a master’s degree from ESCP and an MBA from INSEAD, France. He chairs several companies and serves on the boards of major corporations in Africa and Europe. He has also founded the YIA Foundation, an organization focused on social integration in developing countries.
Roland Dominicé
DIRECTOR
Roland Dominicé
DIRECTOR
Roland was part of the founding team at Symbiotics in 2005. He was subsequently Head of Business Development (2005-2008), Chief Executive Officer (2008-2022) and Group Managing Director (2002-2026). He has also held many internal governance roles, including as Chair of the Symbiotics Sicavs and the Symbiotics Association, and still serves as Board Member of affiliated business lines.
He also serves as Board Chair for Tameo Impact Fund Solutions, which he co-founded in 2021 and led subsequent seed capital rounds. Prior to Symbiotics, Roland was Chief Financial Officer and equity partner at BlueOrchard Finance. He was instrumental in issuing the first capital markets microfinance bonds in Wall Street, which paved the way for blended finance funds and vehicles. Roland was also a Board Member of Swiss Sustainable Finance, where he led their impact investing workstream (2016-2022). He started his career in the mainstream financial sector, at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Geneva in management consulting, for McKesson in San Francisco in corporate finance, and for UBS Switzerland in institutional asset management.
He holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Graduate Institute (IHEID) in Geneva and a master’s degree in social sciences from the University of Chicago. He also completed several executive education programs, including in private equity at the London Business School and in venture capital at the University of California, Berkeley.
Christèle Hiss Holliger
DIRECTOR
Christèle Hiss Holliger
DIRECTOR
Christèle retired from Pictet Group after a 30 years’ career in Finance. She brings her strategic insight and governance expertise by serving as an independent Board Director to L’Occitane International, Symbiotics Group, and the Pictet Group Foundation. She is also an Executive Coach and Mentor, working with senior leaders to help them focus, build confidence and improve their influence and impact.
Widely regarded as a daring and inspiring leader, Christèle broke new ground as the first woman to become an Equity Partner and to serve on Pictet’s Group Executive Committee. Over her 25-year tenure at Pictet, she played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s institutional business and shaping its global strategy, talent development, and organisational culture.
Her leadership journey included key positions such as Global Head of Human Resources, CEO of Pictet Asset Management Singapore, and Head of Institutional Clients in Geneva. Christèle was also an elected member of Pictet’s Pension fund Board. Before joining Pictet, she worked at BNP Paribas, in Paris as Institutional Sales Manager and in Geneva as Investment Strategist.
Christèle graduated with an MSc in Business Management from EDHEC Business School (France) and obtained the Federal Diploma for Financial Analyst and Portfolio Manager (CIIA/CFPI, Switzerland).
Yvan Renaud
CEO
Yvan Renaud
CEO
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.
Daniel joined Symbiotics in its early stages in 2006 and has played a key role in the company's growth across various leadership positions. Over the years, he has served as Regional Manager for Europe and Asia, Head of the Research and Advisory Division, and Head of the Investments Division. Since January 2025, he has been the CEO of Symbiotics Asset Management.
Before joining Symbiotics, Daniel held several management roles at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with field assignments in Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, culminating in his role as Deputy Head of Operations for Eastern Europe at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva.
He holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute (IHEID) in Geneva and an Executive MBA in Management and Corporate Finance from the University of Lausanne.
At Symbiotics since 2010, Christophe has been investment manager, head of asset management fixed income and head of investment operations, before being appointed CFO in December 2018 and CEO of our Group Services in January 2025. Formerly, Christophe worked for sixteen years for UBS in Lausanne, Geneva, Zurich and in New York in positions ranging from credit and recovery management, risk management and structured lending to client-facing activities in the Sub-Saharan African market. Christophe holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, a diploma of advanced studies (DAS) in commodity trading from the University of Geneva and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Applied Sciences, Lausanne.
With over two decades of global HR expertise, Imane leads the HR agenda at Symbiotics since January 2022. Her role encompasses strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the continued growth and development of HR-related functions in line with Symbiotics' mission to promote sustainable development in emerging and frontier economies.
Previously, Imane held the position of Group Head of HR at Philia SA overseeing offices across Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, Congo, and Morocco. Her international HR background includes roles at Louis Dreyfus Company, Edesia Asset Management, and Addax Petroleum Services.
Passionate about personal and organizational growth, Imane thrives on leading teams and organizations toward success.
She holds Swiss and Moroccan nationality, she holds a Swiss Brevet Federal in HR, certified qualifications in Coaching, in Mediation, a degree in International Trade at the University Ibnou Zohr as well as a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from the Swiss Federal Institute (EPFL).
Michael, a Charted Financial Analyst, joined Symbiotics in 2018 as a Senior Portfolio Manager. He was promoted Head of Discretionary Mandates in 2020 and Chief Investment Officer in 2025. He has over 20 years of investment experience as a portfolio manager and investment analyst at several asset managers including Unigestion, PAAMCO (US), and Natixis AM.
With a career spanning over a decade, he has developed a deep expertise in alternative investments, sustainable finance and asset management in developed and emerging markets. Michael holds an Advanced Study Diploma from Pantheon-Sorbonne and a master's degree in economics and Statistics at ENSAE (member of Institut Polytechnique de Paris).
Yannis joined Symbiotics in 2007 as a Senior Market Research Analyst. After a 3-year intermezzo (2011-2014), working notably as risk manager for an innovative Impact Fund, he rejoined Symbiotics as a Portfolio Manager, before taking charge of our Discretionary Mandate team in 2017. Before Symbiotics, he held various functions in finance and development at the United Nations on Trade and Development, ILO and Capital International. Yannis holds a Master degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute in Geneva as well as a Master of Advanced Studies in Globalization, Social Regulation and Sustainable Development from the University of Geneva. He has been a Certified International Investment Analyst since 2011.
Bezant Chongo is the CEO of Symbiotics Capacity Building. Based in Cape Town, he oversees operational strategy, technical assistance (TA) management, and institutional partnerships to strengthen SYCB’s impact on financial inclusion. With 20 years of experience in inclusive finance and development, he has designed and implemented TA programs funded by multilateral donors, covering MSME finance, affordable housing, green finance, and digital financial services. Under his leadership, Symbiotics Capacity Building has deployed EUR 6 million in TA packages for 40 financial institutions across Asia, LATAM and Sub-Saharan Africa, and played a key role in initiatives such as BII-Symbiotics Green Basket Bond TA, SCBF, SSNUP and the TAF REGMIFA. A Zambian national, he holds a Master’s in Microfinance from the University of Bergamo. Before joining Symbiotics, he was Regional Manager for Southern and East Africa at Positive Planet.
Cyril Bouchu is a seasoned financial leader with over 25 years of experience in shaping client-focused investment strategies across Investment Banking, Wealth Management, and Private Equity. Known for his strategic insight and innovative approach, Cyril has a track record of challenging the status quo to deliver bespoke solutions that align with the evolving needs of institutional investors. At Symbiotics Asset Management, he leverages his extensive international experience, spanning Paris, London, and Geneva, to drive sustainable growth and impactful financial practices, always prioritizing client success.
Céline joined Symbiotics in June 2021 as Head of Symbiotics France. She started her career in 1996 at Credit Commercial de France (acquired by HSBC in 2001) in the equity capital market and investment banking with a focus on mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets. She joined responsAbility in 2010 in Hong Kong as a senior investment officer and was then in charge of the origination of debt investments in financial institutions in the Asia Pacific and business development in France when relocating in 2019. Celine is a Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA®) and graduated from the European Business School (EBS) Paris.
With more than 20 years of experience in SME finance and investments in emerging markets, Elitsa has built a strong track record across investment operations, risk management, and strategic leadership.
At Symbiotics since 2010, Elitsa has served as investment analyst covering Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, investment pipeline manager overseeing Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia, and head of the Risk and Recovery team, which she established and led for eight years, before being appointed Head of Investments and joining the executive committee of Symbiotics Investments in 2025.
Prior to joining Symbiotics, she worked as an independent consultant advising microfinance institutions, SME lenders, and their shareholders. Earlier, she served as an IPC consultant in Africa and Eastern Europe and held positions as Head of Risk and Head of SME Lending at ProCredit banks in Latin America.
Elitsa holds a master degree in finance, banking, and development economics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main.
Philipp is Head of Structuring and Arranger Services 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.
Vincent joined Symbiotics in 2007, first serving as an investment analyst covering Latin America and Eastern Europe. He opened the company's office in South Africa and worked there as Regional Manager for 5 years before returning to Geneva as Head of Markets, responsible for prospection, analysis, and client relationships across all the company's investees. Previously, Vincent worked for Nestlé as a supply chain and operational project manager in South America and Eastern 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.
Luz is the Head of Blended Finance at Symbiotics Asset Management, where she leads the firm's blended finance initiatives to mobilize capital for high-impact investments in emerging and frontier markets. She previously served as Fund Manager of REGMIFA (Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa) and joined Symbiotics in 2021 as a Portfolio Manager.
With over 15 years of experience in the impact investment industry, Luz has built deep expertise in structuring innovative and local currency financial solutions that expand access to finance for underserved markets. Before joining Symbiotics, she was Director of Hedging Services at MFX Solutions, where she helped financial institutions manage currency risk in developing economies. Earlier in her career, she held positions at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Treasury of Citibank Mexico.
Luz is an economist with a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. In terms of certification, she is a CFA® charter holder and recently became a Certified Expert in Microfinance from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
Aldric joined Symbiotics in April 2017 and has held several investment positions within the company. In 2022, he helped establish the Fintech team, expanding Symbiotics’ investment activities in technology-enabled financial services. Since 2026, he has led the Market Innovation team, focusing on developing new investment opportunities and financing solutions across innovative and technology-driven sectors.
Over the course of his career, Aldric has developed experience at the intersection of investment, technology and emerging markets. Before joining Symbiotics, he worked in strategy, M&A and business development at Orange, where he assessed investment opportunities and technology businesses.
Aldric holds a master’s degree from Institut National des Télécommunications in France and completed an MBA in Strategy at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand.
John has nearly 25 years of experience in finance, marketing, and communication, having worked across international banking, asset management, and corporate strategy. He began his career in event management and brand strategy before moving into marketing and communication roles in the financial sector. After holding key marketing leadership positions at HSBC Private Bank, he returned to Symbiotics in 2014, where he has since taken on broader responsibilities spanning marketing, communication, project management, and corporate strategy. As Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), he oversees marketing and communication while actively supporting business development and the coordination of market development strategies. He holds a degree in visual communication and various certifications in marketing, communication, and management.
Salvador is Head of Sales & Business Development at Symbiotics Investments, which he joined in 2023, and serves as a Member of the Executive Committee. He oversees the firm's relationships with institutional investors, asset managers and family offices across more than 25 countries, leading the investor acquisition, deal placement, marketing and product development teams from 4 locations in Europe and Africa.
A seasoned executive in banking and wealth management, Salvador brings over 25 years of leadership experience. Prior to Symbiotics, he was Head of Client Experience at Edmond de Rothschild SA and a Member of the Private Banking Executive Committee. Before that, he spent fifteen years at BNP Paribas Wealth Management in Geneva and Paris, where his roles included Head of Client Experience & Marketing for Switzerland — as a Member of the Switzerland Executive Committee — and Global Head of Investment Services Marketing. He began his career at UBS AG in Geneva.
His expertise spans sales and business development, institutional client coverage, client experience and digital transformation. He holds a master's degree in International Relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute.
Prashant Bhardwaj is an investment professional with nearly two decades of experience across impact investing, private equity, structured finance, and financial institution investments in Asia. As Regional Manager, South Asia at Symbiotics, he leads the firm's investment activities across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other regional markets, overseeing debt, equity, and sustainable finance transactions for banks, NBFCs, MFIs, and other financial institutions. Prashant holds an MBA from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), a Bachelor's degree in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, and has completed the Green Bond Executive Program from ICMA. He is passionate about advancing financial inclusion, sustainable finance, and innovative capital solutions across emerging markets.
Jerome joined Symbiotics in 2017 as Senior Market and Credit Risk Analyst for Latin America and Africa. He subsequently served as Team Leader of the Market & Credit Risk unit before being appointed Regional Manager for Latin America in 2024. Before joining Symbiotics, Jerome spent six years as Investment Manager for Latin America at Incofin Investment Management, focusing on both debt and equity investments in microfinance institutions and non-bank financial institutions. Jerome is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Bachelor’s in business administration from the Neoma Business School (France) and a Master’s in Economics from the Schumacher College (UK), a reputable institution focused on social and economic justice and sustainability.
Katerina joined Symbiotics in 2018 as an Investment Analyst covering Eastern Europe. Before her current role, Katerina was a Senior Investment Analyst and Regional Manager for Europe, responsible for investments into financial institutions, global networks, and agribusinesses. Prior to Symbiotics, she held managerial and operational roles in the commodities industry, specializing in trade finance and operations. Katerina holds an MBA from the University of Geneva and a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from Nottingham Trent University.
Alexandr joined Symbiotics in 2013 as Investment Analyst for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and he has covered operations in these regions since then. In 2021, Alexandr coordinated the setup of Symbiotics Investments’ subsidiary in Yerevan, Armenia. An expert in credit analysis and impact finance in the post-Soviet countries, Alexandr previously worked as Market Risk Analyst at Credit Mutuel-CIC Asset Management in France. He holds a master's degree in Corporate finance and Financial markets from University of Strasbourg, and a master's degree in Economics and Business from Institut d'Etudes politiques de Strasbourg.
Duncan is the Regional Director for Africa at Symbiotics, a leading investment firm focused on inclusive and sustainable finance. Before joining Symbiotics, Duncan served as Country Manager for China at Accion International, where he led the launch and management of the organization's microfinance operations over a six-year period. Earlier in his career, he worked in commercial and private banking in South Africa before spending six years in a range of management roles with FINCA International and Accion across Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Nigeria. Duncan holds an MBA and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University.
Eugene joined Symbiotics in 2015 as an investment analyst covering the firm's investments across South East Asia. He was promoted to senior analyst in 2018, and subsequently to regional manager for Symbiotics' Singapore Hub in 2021, where he leads a team of analysts responsible for closing debt transactions for various impact fund mandates of Symbiotics. Prior to joining Symbiotics, Eugene worked for the Singapore Government and for a regional property developer across roles in business development, international relations, and asset and risk management. Eugene holds a Bachelor of Science (Economics) degree from Singapore Management University and a Master's in Sustainable Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and is a CFA charterholder.
Imad joined Symbiotics AIFM in April 2021 and brings almost 20 years of experience in financial services, primarily in asset management. He is highly experienced in managing the investment and operational risks of AIFs across different asset classes, including Article 9 private credit funds in emerging markets. As Risk Director of the AIFM, he has established the enterprise and financial risk management frameworks — spanning policies, processes, analyses, and risk maps — for the AIFM and other Group entities and oversees key risk indicators and stress testing across the Company and the AIFs under management. Before joining Symbiotics, Imad worked for several leading financial institutions, including AXA IM, Natixis AM, Unigestion, LBPSAM, Comgest, Architas and Dexia. A French and Moroccan national, he holds a Master's degree in Statistical and Computer Engineering applied to Finance and is a certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM).
With nearly 20 years of experience in the digital field, Saïd has worked across various sectors, including industry and finance. Graduated from the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG) in France, Saïd began his career as a security, system, and network engineer, gradually transitioning into managing information systems and integrating data oversight. Since joining Symbiotics in 2014, he has played a key role in shaping the firm’s technological infrastructure and innovation roadmap. His journey has led him to his current role as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), where he leverages his extensive expertise to drive technological innovation and oversees IT strategy, system architecture, and digital initiatives, driving operational efficiency and technological growth.
With extensive on-the-ground experience in emerging markets, Amy brings a wealth of legal, business, and strategic knowledge to the firm. Since joining Symbiotics in January 2018, she has overseen the legal, compliance, impact and governance functions. She is also a Board Member of two regulated subsidiaries. Prior to Symbiotics, she worked at Ogletree Deakins, a full-service global law firm, the World Health Organization, and held various positions in conservation, the prevention of human trafficking, and academia. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, a juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School, and is licensed to practice law in the United States.
