OUR TEAM
Experienced team blending Venture Capital, Private Equity and Impact
FRANCISCO SARAIVA GOMES
Chief Investment Officer
Francisco has over 23 years of operational and investment experience in aquaculture having managed operations in farming, health & nutrition, equipment & engineering, processing & marketing. During his career, Francisco has successfully advised and or led M&A for more than $300 M acquisition in fish farming, feeds, ingredients and equipment.
MAX GOTTSCHALK
Founding Partner
Max has over 25 years of Investment and Venture Capital experience having started, backed, and exited a number of investments across various industries including fin-tech, financial services, fashion, and FMCG. He co-Founded Gottex Fund Management, an alternative investment company which he grew to $16bn of assets under management and took public at a $2.2bn market cap. Max has a business degree from the University of Virginia
CHRIS GORELL BARNES
Founding Partner
Chris has over 10 years of ocean conservation experience as the co-Founder of Blue Marine Foundation where he led a number of critical projects. Chris is also an entrepreneur and angel investor. He founded Adjust Your Set a leading brand communications agency and was the executive producer of the award-winning documentary film The End of the Line
GEORGE DUFFIELD
Founding Partner
George has over 10 years of ocean conservation experience as the co-Founder of Blue Marine Foundation where he led a number of critical projects. George is also an entrepreneur and angel investor. As a movie producer he produced a number of movies including the award-winning documentary film The End of the Line which was awarded the Puma Creative Impact Award in 2011
MAX HOLTZMAN
Operations Director
Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary
of Agriculture appointed by
President Obama, investment
Principal at Pontos Aqua, Vice
Chairman Capitol Peak Asset
Management, Attorney for 25 years,
University of Miami and a BS in
Agricultural Economics, University of
Florida.
PIERS LAKIN
Head of Deal Sourcing
Piers has over 6 years of experience in sustainable finance and private equity at ADM Capital, a $1.6bn Private Equity group in Asia. He has supported a number of investments across the Asia Pacific Region. Piers has Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Imperial College
RICARDO CIRES
Senior Investment Analyst
10 years experience in financial consulting on a variety of industries and markets Specialized in financial modeling and controlling Experience in M&A transactions, due diligence, valuation, budgeting and business planning at S&H, Tempreand Carollo.
HUGO LE BRETON
Head of Impact
22 years of experience in developing and implementing sustainability programmes in a variety of industries, including 15 years with Royal Dutch Shell. Founder of Le Breton Yachts. MSc Environmental Mgmt. at Imperial Coll., and MA Natural Sciences at Cambridge.
AMBER STRAUSS
Data Analyst
Amber Strauss is a data scientist having worked at a human health technology company called Thriva. She has extensive experience in marine conservation having worked for the Ocean and Human Health Research program in Bermuda, where she assisted in the development of an app that calculates mercury toxicity in fish, and carried out water purity testing. She also worked for 2 years at the Swire Institute of Marine Science in Hong Kong to develop sustainable fishing methods.
TIM RONIGER
CFO / COO
27 years in financial services. Oversees accounting & administration for group and family members. Ex E&Y and CFO at Gottex Fund Management. Chartered Accountant (SAICA), Honors Degree in Accounting and Finance.
SHEILA GUNGADIN
Head of Investor Relations
Sheila has over 15 years of project management, business development, and investor relations experience in the private equity, international development and consulting space. She has worked across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Sheila holds a Master in Economics and Policy from University College London and completed the London Business School Private Equity programme. She received a BA from the National University of Singapore.