Lightrock employs a diverse team of more than 80 private equity professionals – 40% of whom are female – from more than 13 different countries and across four continents with headquarters in London, combining extensive experience in impact investing, a strong track record in leadership, entrepreneurship and portfolio management, with extensive networks regionally and globally, and speaking more than 20 languages. Lightrock's Board of Directors is chaired by its Founder Prince Max von Liechtenstein, who initiated LGT’s impact investing activities in 2009, and is organized as a partnership led by CEO Pål Erik Sjåtil.
Toluwani is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about transformative capital and its impact across global growth markets. Prior to joining Lightrock, Toluwani covered investments in the technology and renewable energy sectors across Latin America and Southeast Asia. He started his career on the Fundamental Equities desk of Goldman Sachs in London. Toluwani holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. He is an avid runner, skier, and open water diver with a budding interest in contemporary arts.
Sam is a Principal at Lightrock. He is passionate about the role that sustainable capital can play in “developing market” ecosystems. Prior to joining Lightrock, Sam both invested in and advised on various transactions across Europe and Africa spanning the TMT, FMCG, financial services, and energy sectors. His career began in Investment Banking with J.P. Morgan’s London office before joining Helios Investment Partners. Sam holds a BA in Philosophy and Religion from King's College London. He enjoys sports, music, and time with family and friends.
Kushal is a Partner and CFO of Lightrock India. He is passionate about working with companies in their formative phase and helps with strategic and financial planning, process implementation, performance management and risk management. Kushal’s previous engagements include Financial Controller at Zovi.com and significant stints at ITC and PWC. He is a meritorious Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a graduate in Commerce from St. Xavier's College. Kushal is passionate about wildlife and photography and does not miss a chance to escape to the jungles!
Sravani is an Executive Assistant at Lightrock. She supports the firm in its secretarial, administrative, and finance functions. Prior to joining Lightrock, she served as an executive assistant at Northwest Venture Capital and a guest relations manager at ITC Windsor. She has also managed social events as part of several government initiatives. In her free time, Sravani can be found weightlifting and exploring different aspects of self-defence and martial arts.
Daniel is a Finance Manager at Lightrock. He enjoys impact investing due to his drive and motivation for tackling new challenges. Daniel has spent most of his career in business controlling, administration, and finance. He joined Lightrock from BRF, a food company focused on fast moving consumer goods. During his time with BRF, he worked in Brazil, South Africa, and Russia. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Universidade Guarulhos. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling overseas, spending time with friends and family, and supporting Flamengo, his favorite football club.
Rafael is an investor at Lightrock. Passionate about private equity and venture capital and searching for ways to generate a positive impact on society, he believes that his current role balances his personal and professional interests. Prior to joining Lightrock, he worked at Bank of America’s investment banking division on deals in the utilities, financial services and oil & gas sectors. Rafael is completing his last year of Business Administration at Fundação Getúlio Vargas in São Paulo. In his free time, he enjoys watching football and experiencing new cultures through food and travel.
Suchita is General Counsel at Lightrock India. She advises Lightrock on legal and regulatory matters. Suchita has previously worked with Argus Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, in diverse practice areas such as private equity, capital markets, technology and data privacy, and corporate governance. Suchita is a graduate of National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and has a Masters in Law from Columbia Law School, New York.
Saleem is a Partner at Lightrock. He is passionate about enabling entrepreneurs to succeed through a combination of support and collaborative challenge. Prior to working with sector teams on evaluating and underwriting new investments and value creation at Lightrock, he founded and ran healthcare and education businesses in the UK, including Cambian Group Plc, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Saleem qualified with an honour’s degree in Pathology and Basic Medical Sciences from the University of London. In his spare time, he runs, cycles, swims and enjoys travel.
Daria is a Partner and the CFO of Lightrock. Her fascination with people, love of learning, and desire to address society’s biggest problems motivates her interest in impact investing. Prior to joining Lightrock, Daria was the Director of Operations of McKinsey & Company Europe. In that role, she was crucial for driving the performance of all European offices and supporting innovation and inclusive leadership. Her prior experiences include being a CFO for EEMA and Eastern Europe and Director of Professional Development for Eastern Europe. Daria holds a Master’s in Strategy from the Norwegian School of Economics. Daria is a passionate traveller – she enjoys discovering new places and learning new languages. She is interested in impact topics like healthcare and circular economy and loves spending time with her three sons.
Victoria is an investor at Lightrock. She believes that impact investing captures the key elements of societal need and reinforces the ideas of financial, environmental, and social sustainability. Victoria has worked in finance her entire career. Prior to joining Lightrock, she worked at BTG, one of Latin America's largest investment banks. Victoria holds a Bachelor in Business Administration with a major in Finance from Fundação Getulio Vargas. She is always ready to try new foods, read a good thriller and run outdoors.
Johanna Bengtsson is an investor at Lightrock. She believes that return on investment and social, economic and environmental impact need to work hand in hand to ensure we all have a bright and profitable future. Prior to joining Lightrock, Johanna worked for 4 years at Venture Founders, where she worked in both deal execution and portfolio monitoring of more than 30 companies. Johanna holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Business Administration from Hult International Business School in London.
Sahib is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about defining innovative investment strategies, strengthening Lightrock’s corporate functions, and partnering with entrepreneurs on growth journeys. His previous experience includes supporting global banking clients on fintech topics at McKinsey & Company. Sahib has also worked on a political campaign, at a fast-moving consumer goods multinational, and at a risk intelligence firm. He holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and International Relations, Cum Laude, from Claremont McKenna College. He enjoys skiing, playing the drums, and reading biographies in his free time.
Rodolfo "Rudi" Bogni is a Member of the Board at Lightrock. He moved on from an interest in philanthropy, as co-founder of one the largest banking foundations, to impact investing, while retaining a focus also on private equity. Most of his career was in banking, finally as CEO, Private Banking at UBS, retiring in 2000. Thereafter he has had NED responsibilities at LGT, Old Mutual, Waypoint and Moody’s in Europe, among others. He graduated in economics from Bocconi University in Milan in 1970 and is a member of the London Mathematical Society. He is a member of the Athenaeum in London and an unpaid columnist for Wilmott Magazine, the most expensive subscription magazine in the world, aimed at quants.
Kevin is a Partner at Lightrock. He believes the alignment of world-class, purpose-driven entrepreneurs and supportive capital is essential to creating the world we want to live in. He joined Lightrock after more than twenty years in technology, principally as an investor across growth and venture stages globally, but previously in CEO roles leading restructurings and turnarounds of three businesses, as an investment banker and as a consultant. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s in Japanese & Economics from Sheffield University, a Diploma in Aid Economics from Chuo University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He has been an FCA regulated individual since 1996. When not fulfilling various charity Trustee roles, Kevin can be found in the boxing ring or on a football field desperately trying to put off the day when his kids can best him at all sports.
Ann Cairns is a Member of the Board at Lightrock. She is also the Executive Vice Chair of Mastercard. As a senior ambassador and executive leader, she brings inclusion, diversity and innovation to the forefront not just within Mastercard, but around the world, building new global partnerships with governments, businesses and NGOs. Prior to Mastercard, Ann held many senior leadership positions including heading the Financial Services Group with Alvarez & Marsal in London, a tenure as CEO of Transaction Banking at ABN-AMRO and 15 years in senior operational positions at Citigroup. She has a Pure Mathematics degree and honorary doctorate from Sheffield University, a M.Sc. with research into Medical Statistics and an Honorary Doctorate from Newcastle University.
Delroy is a Senior IT Support Engineer at Lightrock. He is excited to join a growing company with a focus at the intersection of tech and impact. Before Lightrock, Delroy worked for over 20 years as a technical support engineer in the entertainment business at Ticketmaster/Livenation Entertainment. He enjoys DJing, spending time with his family and friends, and enhancing his web design techniques.
Guilherme is an investor at Lightrock. He views impact investing as a robust way of contributing to a fairer world. Having started his career at a small M&A boutique, Guilherme spent his early days in private equity with Patria Investimentos, the largest Private Equity firm in LatAm, working primarily with agribusiness. Guilherme holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas. Outside of commercial hours, he can be found running on the streets.
Meghana is an Executive Assistant at Lightrock. She is a happy-go-lucky and positive person, and has the natural ability to add life to any gathering. A multi-lingual, cross-fit enthusiast & a passionate runner, she is a strong-willed woman who knows just how to get the job at hand done. She originally began as a Pastry Chef and ran her own patisserie before eventually joining the hospitality industry. A recent opportunity allowed her to make an hitherto unimagined move into the world of venture capital and finance.
Paula is the Operations Director at Lightrock LatAm. Her experiences in Fund Management and Fund Structuring in the PE&VC industry led her to become increasingly excited about tech and impact investments. Prior to joining Lightrock, Paula was the Risk and Compliance Director at Redpoint Eventures and Operations Coordinator at Patria Investments. Paula holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics from Insper and a Master’s in Financial Economics from Maastricht University. She enjoys reading, travelling, and spending time with family, friends and her pets.
Pranav is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about combining his interests in finance and social impact on a day-to-day basis. Prior to joining Lightrock, he evaluated investment opportunities in the Indian healthcare landscape as an analyst at Quadria Capital. Pranav started his career in Avendus Capital’s investment banking team covering the digital and tech landscape. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Master’s in Commerce from the HR College of Commerce & Economics. In his free time, Pranav enjoys speech and drama as well as working with NGOs.
Joanna is an investor at Lightrock. She is passionate about discovering new technologies and supporting mission-driven entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses. Prior to joining Lightrock, Joanna was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company where she gained experience across a broad range of industries (banking, consumer, e-commerce, telecommunications, healthcare) and functions (strategy and corporate finance, operations, marketing, and sales) in Europe and the US. Joanna holds a Master’s in Strategic Management from HEC Paris and a Bachelor’s in Quantitative Methods in Economics and Information Systems from the Warsaw School of Economics. In her free time, she can be found running, biking, or exploring new countries and cuisines.
Arnab is an investor at Lightrock. The cross-section of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, technology, and finance and being from a business family drew him into impact investing. Prior to joining Lightrock, Arnab was on the Fixed Income & Currencies desk at Deutsche Bank, where he worked across Asian markets to provide risk management derivative solutions. Arnab holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, where he was also the President of the Economics Society. He savors his solitude and free time with David Fincher’s crime thrillers, fleeting between the Bengali soul that Jhumpa Lahiri evokes, or digging into economic history.
Ahmad is a Principal at Lightrock. He is driven by the conviction that a conscious, responsible, and innovative private sector is indispensable for solving the world’s most urgent challenges. Prior to joining Lightrock, he contributed to more than $200 million of structured credit investments at a Dubai-based mezzanine finance fund. Prior to that, he assisted in managing over $1 billion of on-balance sheet investments at Waha Capital in Abu Dhabi. Ahmad holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from the American University of Beirut. He spends his free time walking around neighbourhoods to discover hidden-gem restaurants and food stands.
Joy is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about leveraging deep science and technology to scale impact. Prior to joining Lightrock, he worked in business development at a food tech start-up and as an early-stage investor at MVentures, the biopharma fund of Merck KGaA. Before that, Joy served as a bioprocess engineer and as a management consultant focusing on innovation strategy. Joy has a Master’s in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor’s in Biochemical Engineering from University College London. He is an avid climber, jazz pianist, and loves all things with water and boards.
Ashish is a Principal at Lightrock and leads investments in the financial services / fintech and sustainable energy in India. Prior to Lightrock, Ashish worked with SEAF, a Washington DC based impact fund, where he led global investment initiatives and was involved in Qatar SME equity fund. He also consulted with Capricorn incubated company, Automatiks and led the engineering and operations for Agni Energy, a bio-energy company. He began his career with Bayer Crop Science’s Indian subsidiary as a Manager of Projects. Ashish has filed one patent and three provisional patents in the bio-power space. Ashish is a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He currently serves on the boards of Varthana, Smartcoin and Amp Energy.
Richard Grabbe is an investor at Lightrock. Having worked alongside daring entrepreneurs, he is passionate about partnering with founders that build mission-driven companies taking bold steps in solving societal and environmental problems. He believes that our generation will be defined by the actions we take to combat climate change and inequality. Prior to joining Lightrock, Richard worked in the Corporate Strategy & Development team at TIER Mobility raising more than $300m in funding and scaling the business to a unicorn valuation. He started his career in Technology Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley in London. Richard holds a Master’s in Management from London Business School and a Bachelor’s in International Business from the University of Vienna. He is passionate about modern & contemporary art, vintage wristwatches, and enjoys a good game of padel or golf.
Peter is the General Counsel of Lightrock. As a New Zealander, he is passionate about the natural environment and Lightrock’s focus on sustainability. He previously worked as a private equity consultant in New Zealand. Prior to that, Peter worked for an investment manager in Singapore and as General Counsel at Aureos Capital in England, having spent his earlier career in private practice. Peter studied law at the University of Otago, New Zealand and is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. In his spare time, he enjoys the mental relaxation of swimming, history, and architecture. Having hung up his competitive triathlete shoes years ago, Peter aspires to a Masters’ competitive event.
Veni is an investor at Lightrock. She is inspired by the opportunity to work across food and agriculture, consumer value chains, and logistics. Prior to joining Lightrock, she served as a Management Consultant with McKinsey & Company. While at McKinsey, Veni worked on projects across financial services, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, chemicals, and building materials, helping clients with growth strategies and business build out. She is a graduate in Commerce (Hons) from Hansraj College, University of Delhi. Veni is a trained Indian classical dancer who enjoys art, food, and writing.
Andrew Horn is the Group Financial Controller – Financial and Tax at Lightrock. He is excited to be part of a growing business that backs entrepreneurs developing market-based solutions to global challenges. Andrew joined Lightrock from J O Hambro Capital Management, with prior experience at CBRE Global Investors and Macquarie Group. He is an ICAEW qualified accountant. In his free time, Andrew enjoys all sports and spending time with his family.
Umur is a Partner at Lightrock. He believes that investing in purpose-driven businesses, partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs, and advancing disruptive technologies will solve global challenges and create long-term alpha. Umur has more than 20 years of direct private equity experience. Previously, he worked for Capital Group with a focus on direct private equity investments. Prior to that, Umur spent a decade with CCMP Capital (fka J.P. Morgan Partners) focusing on growth equity and buyout investments across Europe. He started his career in the M&A group of Salomon Brothers in New York and London. Umur holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Macalester College, MN, USA. He enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his friends and family.
Reynir Indahl is a Member of the Board at Lightrock and is Founder and Managing Partner of Summa Equity, which has been partnering with Lightrock on several investments. As the challenges to our planet and our society are increasing, Reynir decided to join LGT Venture Philanthropy and Lightrock and to found Summa Equity to invest in solving these challenges. Prior to this, Reynir was a Partner with Altor Equity Partners, CEO of Ignis, and a consultant with McKinsey. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and Bachelor from The Wharton School. As a Norwegian, he loves engaging with nature and marine life, either in Northern Norway, or in Kenya/Masai Mara through the projects he is engaged in there.
Jennifer is an Associate at Lightrock. She is fascinated by the intersection of impact and tech, and is inspired by innovative companies that have potential to grow through addressing global sustainability challenges at scale. Prior to joining Lightrock, she worked in several sectors, such as banking, med-tech and the public sector. She holds a Master's from Imperial College London and a Bachelor's from King’s College London in Economics. She loves socializing, travelling, music, spending time at the beach and skiing in the Alps.
Rodolfo is an investor at Lightrock. He is thrilled to support entrepreneurs building genuine solutions to structural challenges in emerging and developed markets. Prior to joining Lightrock, Rodolfo worked on healthcare and energy opportunities in the buy-out sector and digital marketplaces and mobility platforms as a venture capitalist at Monashees. He holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Insper. In his free time, Rodolfo can be found on the tennis court improving his top spin, listening to good music, and spending time with friends and family.
Martin is an investor at Lightrock and gets thrilled about partnering with entrepreneurs tackling sustainability challenges through innovation and technology. Before joining Lightrock, he led corporate development and M&A efforts at Typeform, a fast-growing SaaS scale-up. Martin previously gained more than five years of investment experience as a private equity investor at Inflexion Private Equity and as a growth equity investor at HPE Growth. He holds a Master’s in Finance & Investments and Bachelor’s in International Business Administration from the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. Having studied and worked in six different countries, chances are you’ll find Martin on the road in his spare time, probably somewhere close to the sea or a stadium.
Lewis is responsible for portfolio monitoring and analysis at Lightrock. He is passionate about working with companies tackling global challenges and building a more sustainable future. Prior to Lightrock, Lewis worked at IHS Markit as a project manager, delivering data-driven portfolio management solutions to private equity clients across EMEA. Lewis holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics and a BSc in Economics from the University of East Anglia. In his free time, he enjoys live music, keeping fit on the tennis court and spending time with friends and family.
Elizabeth is a Paralegal at Lightrock. She joined Lightrock after working at BBOXX in the renewable energy sector. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor's in International Law from Kingston, a Master's in Law from London School of Economics and Political Science and has successfully completed the Legal Practice Course in London. She enjoys staying fit and is a regular gym-goer, having even participated in a bodybuilding competition. Aside from that, Elizabeth regularly performed as a vocalist in Norway in addition to playing the piano and loves to perform whenever she has the opportunity.
Estella is an investor at Lightrock. She believes in the leading role of capital and innovation in creating a more sustainable and equitable way of living and is passionate about supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs. Before joining Lightrock, Estella was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, advising industrial and financial services clients on corporate strategy and portfolio management as well as supporting the growth of McKinsey's European Sustainability Practice. Prior to that, she worked for a boutique sustainable energy infrastructure investment manager in Switzerland. Estella holds a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Management from Bocconi University and the CEMS Master's in International Management from University of St. Gallen and Bocconi University. Estella is a passionate yogi and tango dancer and enjoys hiking and snowboarding in the Swiss Alps with friends and family.
Verena is the Chief People Officer at Lightrock. She spent more than 18 years at McKinsey & Company in various roles, including as a client serving professional focusing on financial institutions and the healthcare sector, in Professional Development and Learning, as the Head of Risk and Development for the EEMA region and most recently as McKinsey’s first Global Leader of Compliance. Verena also worked as an Attorney specializing in M&A and capital markets for nearly 5 years at Wolf Theiss and as Judicial Clerk in Court. Verena holds an LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School, an MA and PHD from the University of Vienna Law School and has been admitted to the New York and Austrian Bar.
Nigel is a Principal at Lightrock. He believes that the creation of positive impact and commercial value are deeply intertwined and wants Lightrock to be the leading resource for founders who care passionately about both. Before joining Lightrock, Nigel co-founded a company that scaled consumer and healthcare services businesses. Prior to this, he focused on global growth equity investments at the IFC, having started his career working in investment banking at Moelis & Company in New York. Nigel holds a BA in Political Science from Harvard University. Outside of work, he can be found open water swimming, watching any type of sport, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and dog.
Saloni is an investor at Lightrock. She was recently on secondment to a healthcare portfolio company, Swasth, where she led the oxygenation initiative in response to the pandemic. Previously, Saloni was a Management Consultant with Ernst & Young, where she worked with clients in the consumer, airline, telecom and manufacturing sectors on strategy, cost and process optimisation, and organisational design. She is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate in Commerce and Economics from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics. Outside of work, Saloni enjoys teaching children, watching theatre, and spending time outdoors.
Mehul is an investor at Lightrock. He is truly inspired by Lightrock’s exclusive focus on creating an impact for the community at large, especially in the financial services sector. Previously, he was a Strategy Consultant with EY-Parthenon, Bangalore. As a Strategy Associate at EY-P, he worked across several sectors including defence, real estate, education, consumer, manufacturing, and electronics advising Indian & global clients on their investment, growth, market entry and product strategies. Mehul is a Chartered Accountant and a Commerce graduate specialising in Finance & Accounting. He does not shy away from debates on geopolitical issues, economic policymaking, and football.
Shakir is a Partner and Head of Africa at Lightrock. As one of the pioneer private equity investors in Africa, he is passionate about the role that private enterprise can play in catalysing positive outcomes. Before overseeing Lightrock’s capital deployment across Africa, he oversaw the Africa health and East African portfolios of Aureos Capital. Prior to that, he deployed funds in early-stage technology businesses in the US and Europe. Shakir holds a BSc and an MSc with distinction from the London School of Economics. Outside of work, he can be found touring the continent by motorcycle and on stage in Nairobi, entertaining people with his attempts at stand-up comedy.
Estêvão is an investor at Lightrock. He is enthusiastic about positively impacting society by investing in solutions to global challenges and sustainability issues. Prior to joining Lightrock, Estêvão worked for four years at Patria Investimentos, a leading LatAm PE firm, as part of the investment and origination team. At Patria, he also contributed to the fundraising of a $2.7 billion LatAm-focused PE fund. Estêvão holds a Materials Engineering degree from Universidade Federal de São Carlos. He enjoys going out with friends and family, playing tennis, and watching good movies.
Nina is responsible for Legal Structuring at Lightrock. Her passion for organic food, sustainable fashion, and being a mother triggered her desire to combine financial investments with purpose, preserve the world’s beauty, and improve lives. Prior to joining Lightrock, Nina has worked with law, buy, and sell side firms in London, Frankfurt, and New York with a focus on the development of investment products and financial transactions. Nina received a doctor of laws from the University of Konstanz in Germany and holds a Master's in European Business Law from Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Nina is inspired by contemporary arts and enjoys winter sports, tennis, yoga and laughing with her family and friends. She dreams of a sailing trip across the Greek islands.
Alex is the Group Financial Controller, Fund Accounting at Lightrock. He joined Lightrock as he strongly believes that impact investing helps build a sustainable and fairer world in an efficient way. He is particularly interested in companies using big data techniques to address key macroeconomic issues. Alex has previously worked in finance roles, including at Helios Investment Partners, Foresight Group, and PwC. He holds an honours degree in Economics from SOAS, University of London, and is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Outside of work, Alex enjoys sports such as football, cycling and rock climbing and studying global history.
Marc is the Head of Impact at Lightrock. He holds a deep conviction that finance should be a force for good and used as a powerful tool for improving the state of society and the environment. He has spent most of his career managing impact strategies in the financial industry, joining Lightrock from a related role as Impact and Operations Manager with LGT Venture Philanthropy. Before his time at LGT, he was a lecturer on Sustainability and Stakeholder Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich. Marc earned his Doctorate from the University of Southern Queensland and holds a Master’s in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Zurich. In his free time, Marc can be found adventuring in the Swiss Alps on skis, in hiking boots, or with a fly-fishing rod in his hands.
Alex is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about working with entrepreneurs to build innovative and sustainable businesses that create opportunities for the community. Alex started his career at Goldman Sachs as a Senior Analyst focused on managing the market risk of multi-asset hedge funds. Before joining Lightrock, he worked as a Transaction Advisor at CrossBoundary Group, advising clients in East and West Africa on capital raises. He graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics & Management. In his free time, he can be found cycling around Nairobi, reading African fiction, or hiking.
Srinidhi is an Associate Director – Finance at Lightrock India. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary from India. As a person who loves a dynamic environment, is intrigued by interesting conversations and is curious about numbers, she finds this role to be an apt combination and is eager to contribute to scaling businesses that create an impact. Prior to this, she worked with Grant Thornton India as Senior Manager and managed projects across India, Singapore, the UK, Nepal, and Australia. She spent most of her career in financial consulting (EY and GT), with a brief stint in FMCG (Unilever and ITC). Srinidhi is about to complete her MBA with NUS Singapore. She is also a graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi. She enjoys all genres of music - she sings and plays the veena, an ancient Indian string instrument.
Aletia is the Chief of Staff at Lightrock. As the world continually faces societal and environmental challenges, she is proud to be part of a strong team with a common vision in the journey to do good. Aletia joined Lightrock at 2018, after spending six years in the energy trading sector as a commercial shipping analyst. Prior to that, her experience focused on human resources & recruiting, spanning tech, corporate law, and wealth management, at Partners Capital LLP, Vitol, and Skadden Arps. Aletia holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Administration from the University of Wales. As a South African based in London for the past 17 years, she is a keen traveller and enjoys learning about new cultures, she is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for high-altitude trekking, long distance running, in addition to yoga, cooking, and an appreciation of fine wine. She is also a history buff!
Ashna is a Controller at Lightrock. She is inspired by the opportunity to work with a team spanning four geographies, over 13 countries, and more than 20 languages. Prior to joining Lightrock, Ashna worked at KPMG London for six years where she dealt with a broad range of private equity and venture capital clients, with focus on investment valuation. Ashna is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Warwick Business School. She never starts her day without watching an episode of Friends over breakfast and enjoys travelling, live music and weekly HIIT classes.
Peter Nussbaum is a Member of the Board at Lightrock. He specializes in M&A and capital markets law, having been involved in numerous IPOs in Germany and the USA, such as United Internet and Sauer, amongst others. A former co-head of Freshfields’ global Private Equity Group and one of the founding partners of the Munich office of Milbank, he was one of the first lawyers in the German market to place a special focus on the private equity industry. Peter has also advised LGT Group and Lightrock on multiple transactions. After a long-standing collaboration with the Prince of Liechtenstein Foundation, he currently heads the Administration of the Princely Assets. In addition to board seats at entities of the Princely Assets, he serves on the supervisory board of FOCAM, Frankfurt, a multi-family office which he co-founded. He holds a Masters degree from NYU School of Law and a Doctorate from Munich University. Together with his wife he is running their ecological farm in Upper Bavaria.
Zenani (Zeni) is an investor at Lightrock. She is passionate about the intersection of sustainable development and technology. Prior to Lightrock, Zenani was an Investment Advisor with UNICEF Venture Fund where she lead the impact assessment of Fund investments and supported portfolio management of startups. Prior to joining UNICEF, Zenani worked as a consultant for UNCDF's local development finance section in Senegal. She received her BA in Political Science and MPA in International Policy and Management from New York University. She is an avid hip hop fan and spends her time writing poetry and short essays.
Marcos is a Partner and Head of Latin America at Lightrock. He strongly believes that technology and innovation are key drivers to solving society’s most pressing problems. Prior to joining Lightrock in 2016, Marcos was a Founding Partner of Bratus Capital, an independent asset manager of alternative investment funds. He has over 20 years of experience investing in Latin America, has participated in more than 25 investments, and serves on the Board of over 15 companies, including CargoX, Creditas, and Konfio. Marcos holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He enjoys traveling and is a big sports enthusiast.
Pranav is a Legal Associate at Lightrock. The opportunity of working with companies that leverage technology to find impactful solutions to issues motivates him in his work at Lightrock. Prior to joining Lightrock, he worked with a law firm in the corporate and M&A, technology and data privacy areas of practice, with experience in general corporate transactions and intellectual property rights issues. He holds a Bachelors' Degree in Law from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi, India. He enjoys aviation and music, and can spend hours on flight simulators in his free time.
Mark is the Chief Compliance Officer of Lightrock. He has always been passionate about ensuring future generations have a prosperous future, and believes that profit and purpose go hand in hand. Mark is a skilled compliance officer and MLRO with vast global experience. Prior to joining Lightrock, Mark was the Senior Compliance Manager at LeapFrog Investments, an emerging markets impact investor. Mark has also worked as Vice President at Goldman Sachs International, Compliance Officer at Investec plc and started his compliance career as a financial crime investigator at the Financial Conduct Authority. Mark holds an LLB and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Applied Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and was admitted as an Attorney in South Africa. In his free time, he enjoys good food, live music, playing sports, and spending time with his wife and 3 kids.
Ashish (Ash) is a Partner at Lightrock. His experiences in founding and building businesses inspire him to work side-by-side with mission-driven entrepreneurs. He joined Lightrock after founding and scaling an ecommerce business and investing in primary and secondary opportunities across Venture and Growth funds at Partech Ventures, TempoCap and Episode1. Some of Ashish’s previous investments include Depop (acquired by Etsy), Onfido, Talentsoft (acquired by Cegid), Attest, Digital Surgery (acquired by Medtronic). Ashish started his career as a consultant. He holds a double Masters in Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA and a Diplôme d'Ingénieur from CentraleSupélec, France. In his free time, Ash can be found exploring new cultures through his travels, tending to his bonsai collection, and spending time with family.
Marta is an investor at Lightrock. She considers the shift in consumer preferences towards sustainability a sign of a more responsible future. A financial investor by training, Marta spent her career mostly in corporate finance and impact investing. She joined Lightrock from Citigroup’s Consumer, Retail and Healthcare banking team. Her financial experience is complimented by stints in consulting with an early-stage start-up in Kenya. Marta holds a Master’s and a Bachelor’s in Economics from University College London. She will not say no to a fitness challenge, geeks out on art and design, and appreciates a modern consumer brand.
Waseem is the Head of Information Technology at Lightrock. He believes that thoughtfully harnessed technology can drive positive, sustainable change in all areas. Having lived in London and New York City, Waseem’s previous experiences include scaling new technologies at Ticketmaster and spinning out private equity firm CCMP Capital Advisor’s technology from JP Morgan Chase. He has also worked as an independent consultant delivering cyber security, cloud, and SaaS systems to companies within the financial sector. Along with his passion for technology, Waseem loves cooking, discovering new places, and any chance to have a good laugh.
Radha is an Operations and Compliance Manager at Lightrock. She is passionate about leveraging talent and technology to create a positive change. Prior to joining Lightrock, she worked with Zovi.com as a Manager, Administration responsible for overall office management working closely with the operations and procurement team. Radha has also worked as Executive - Finance & Admin at AAyuja Technologies. She is a Science graduate from Bangalore University and has a diploma in Business Management. Radha enjoys travelling, trekking, and gardening.
Tejasvi is an investor at Lightrock. She is passionate about global health, drawing on over a decade of experience across delivery, pharmaceuticals, medtech, and policy to serve as a Fellow with the Lancet Commission on Reimagining Healthcare for India. Prior to joining Lightrock, Tejasvi led the CEO’s office at Medanta Hospitals, managing projects across strategy, operations, and new hospital launch. Before that, she was a manager at Bain & Company, advising Indian and global healthcare clients on product strategy, business models, and experience design. Tejasvi has a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Bangalore and a Bachelor in Commerce from Stella Maris, Madras University.
Vaidhehi is a Partner at Lightrock. She is passionate about the role of capital and business in creating positive change. She joined the Lightrock platform through its merger with Aspada, a pioneering impact investment manager in India. Previously, she served as an energy consultant to refining and petrochemical projects in the Americas and Africa. Prior to that, she worked as one of the first few women in refinery operations in Indian Oil Corporation. She has a Masters in International Affairs from SIPA, Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.
Vivian Riefberg is a Member of the Board at Lightrock. She is a global thought leader in the areas of healthcare and women’s leadership and has over three decades of experience and in-depth applied knowledge. She holds several Board positions, e.g. at Signify Health (SGFY-NYSE), K Health, John Hopkins Medicine, and is an advisory board member for the Smithsonian's American Women's History Museum, the National Education Equity Lab and the Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. In 2020, she joined the faculty at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, as the David C. Walentas Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professorship Chair where she focuses on senior executive leadership and healthcare, strategy and entrepreneurship across private, public and non-profit sectors. Vivian also held a variety of senior leadership positions at McKinsey including leader of the Public Sector Practice for the Americas, and co-leader of the US Health Care practice. She also served on McKinsey & Company's global Board of Directors and on the Senior Partner Committee evaluating and developing global senior partners. Vivian earned an A.B. in history from Harvard-Radcliffe College and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.
Raghav is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about solving and building for mass-market communities in emerging markets. Raghav joined Lightrock after establishing and leading the agritech, healthtech, and consumer tech investment verticals at an early-stage venture fund in India. Prior to that, he spent time as an operator leading strategy and marketing at an affordable housing developer in eastern India and as a management consultant in New York. Raghav graduated from Emory University, with a major in Finance and a minor in Russian Comparative Literature. He enjoys golf and is a part-time DJ and full-time farming enthusiast.
Georgiana Sande is a Team Assistant at Lightrock in Kenya. She is a proactive, detail-oriented, and driven office management professional with proven expertise in delivering and scaling quality services through strategic planning; with enthusiasm for enhancing internal and external customer experience, business success and growth, and making the team the best it can be. She offers a blend of outstanding strategic, communication, and business skills to support business executives and maintain excellence in office/business management. She loves to cook and outdoor activities, and currently runs her arts and crafts enterprise; GianArts and Crafts as a hobby.
Daniel is an investor at Lightrock. He is passionate about helping businesses scale and leveraging technology to raise living standards for people across the globe. Prior to joining Lightrock, Daniel worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, management consulting at Roland Berger, and impact investing for an organization in Cambodia. Daniel holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s in Business from Fundação Getúlio Vargas. Outside of the office, you can find him playing music with friends or running in the park.
Abhinav Shankar is an investor at Lightrock. He believes technology will have a monumental impact on India by driving efficiency, reducing costs, and democratizing access to essential goods and services. The energy he derives from working with entrepreneurs to shape this future makes him jump out of bed every morning. Prior to joining Lightrock, Abhinav was an early member at a fintech start-up and invested in early-stage opportunities at 5Y Capital and Ventureast. He holds a Master’s in Financial Economics from the University of Oxford and has cleared all three levels of the CFA program. When he is not busy calculating the size of a market, Abhinav can be found using statistics to tinker with his FPL team, devising witty practical jokes, or raising a racquet at the tennis court.
Ravi is a Partner at Lightrock. He is passionate about sustainable capitalism, having deployed meaningful capital in global growth markets for over two decades. Prior to joining Lightrock, Ravi was a Partner at T5 Capital Partners and Aureos Capital. Ravi holds an MBA from the University of Wales and has a BSc in Economics & Accounting from City University, London. Ravi enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, collecting African art, and reading about political history.
Puja is a Finance Director at Lightrock. She believes that impact investing plays a key role in striking a balance between environmental, social, and financial returns. On the professional front, Puja is a veteran of corporate tax and regulatory matters across industry verticals. Prior to joining Lightrock, she worked with professional services firms like Deloitte, EY, and AF Ferguson. In her previous role as a Director at EY, Puja focused on the financial services sector and served as a critical advisor in multiple “Unicorn” journeys. She is a Chartered Accountant and a Commerce graduate. In her free time, Puja enjoys tending to her garden, reading history, and exploring diverse cultures.
Mark Singleton is a Junior Assistant at Lightrock. Mark is a believer that our impact on the planet is a growing issue, but one that can be resolved together with innovative investing strategies. Prior to Lightrock, Mark worked in the motor industry assisting at BMW and delivering the company's customer service standards. He holds a BA in Multimedia Journalism from London Southbank University, in his free time he enjoys staying active, socializing and reading literature.
As the Global Managing Partner and CEO of Lightrock, Pål Erik enjoys the bandwidth of his role from working with deal teams, entrepreneurs and portfolio companies as well as chairing Lightrock Investment Committees, to liaising with investors and the broader PE/VC-ecosystem as well as building out the Lightrock platform. A believer in sustainable capitalism, he finds the intersection of growth, tech, and impact exciting and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs in scaling impact. Prior to joining Lightrock, Pål Erik was the Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company in Europe, a Senior Partner at the firm, and a member of McKinsey’s Shareholders’ Council. He advised companies across the TMT, PE, and Automotive sectors. Before McKinsey, he served as an officer in the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Pål Erik holds a Master’s in Industrial Economics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He enjoys all types of sports, reading about history, and spending time with friends and family.
Katharina Sommerrock is the Head of Investor Relations at Lightrock. She is fascinated by the leverage capital, markets, innovation, and entrepreneurs can have in solving global challenges. She has also held positions at LGT Group in sustainable and impact investing. Before joining LGT, she was a project leader at Bain & Company, focused on financial services, private equity, and social impact. In 2009, Katharina received a PhD for her dissertation on entrepreneurship. She holds a Master’s in International Business Administration from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. Katharina loves spending time with her family in the mountains or on the water, alternates between high-intensity training and a yoga mat, and never has enough time to read.
Kartik is a Partner, Head of India and Chief Strategy Officer at Lightrock. Kartik joined the Lightrock platform through its merger with Aspada, a pioneering impact investment manager in India, where he was the founder and managing partner. Aspada managed two funds in the impact space that were funded by Soros, Omidyar Network, and Google. Prior to his entrepreneurial journey in the impact investment space, Kartik worked with Lightspeed Venture Partners, where he was part of the founding India team, and with McKinsey and Company as a management consultant. He is an engineering graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. Kartik is an avid tennis player and golfer, a design-phile, and a trained musician.
Chris is a Partner at Lightrock. He is a former entrepreneur turned investor having founded, scaled, and exited Uncover the app to discover and book the London's most desirable restaurants. Prior to joining Lightrock, he served as a Principal at Northzone, where he invested in several successful scale-ups like Personio, Forto, Tier Mobility, Infogrid and Flink. Through his work with such businesses, he witnessed first-hand the power of founding teams with a strong sustainability mission, which he is now backing at Lightrock, where he led the investment in Alasco. His focus areas are future of work, property tech, mobility/logistics as well as food tech. He holds an MBA from London Business School and Diplom-Kaufmann from the EBS, Wiesbaden, Germany. In his free time, he loves cycling, kitesurfing as well as spending time with his family.
Oliver is an investor as Lightrock. He has spent the majority of his career at bp, both in the London energy trading business and in bp's electrification, mobility and low carbon unit where he worked, and led, initiatives contributing to bp’s energy transition strategy and investments. Oliver holds a degree in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham and is an ICAS qualified Chartered Accountant. In his free time, Oli enjoys spending time with family and friends, you might also find him learning to kitesurf or refreshing his Spanish.
Arul is a Principal at Lightrock. Having worked across emerging markets, he is impressed by the power of business to create a sustainable impact. Arul joined Lightrock from African Leadership University, where he held multiple leadership roles scaling the venture to pan-African presence. Prior to that, he was with Olam International Ltd as part of their management programme with stints in Africa and the South Pacific. Arul holds an MBA from INSEAD. In his free time, he can be found on his motorbike, enjoying the outdoors, or reading about behavioural economics.
Florian is a Partner and the COO of Lightrock. He believes in the purpose of investments that address global inequalities and conserve the planet’s resources and is passionate about working with entrepreneurs. Prior to joining Lightrock, Florian was with Bamboo Capital Partners, an emerging markets private equity impact investor, where he led the establishment of the firm’s global investment platform from Geneva. He previously worked for a venture capital group in the technology space in Europe and built the Indian operations for a German supply chain specialist. Florian holds a Master of Public Policy from the London School of Economics, where he also earned his undergraduate degree. He enjoys all kinds of outdoor sports, modern art, and spending time with his family and friends.
Divya is a Principal at Lightrock. A believer in systems-thinking, she is passionate about the transformative power of scalable, evidence-led business models to lift generations out of poverty. Prior to joining Lightrock, Divya led the Human Capital functions at New Globe Education, an education platform for systems transformation in Africa, and K12 Techno Services, a school chains network serving middle-income India. Before her transition to impact, Divya was a derivatives lawyer at Linklaters LLP in London. An Erasmus Mundus Scholar, Divya holds a Master's in Law & Economics and graduated from the National Law School of India University. She is a history buff and enjoys singing Indian classical music and running.
Gustavo Verdelli is a Partner at Lightrock. Investing capital with meaningful purpose, that is crucial to disrupt old-fashioned business models, is what really motivates him in the Growth Equity investment space. Gustavo joined Lightrock after working as Director at Aqua Capital, and as Investment Professional at Patria Investimentos and Bratus Capital, investing in minority and controlling positions, with exposure to the Retail, Supply Chain, Technology, Logistics, Energy and Food & Agri sectors. He also worked as CFO and COO of different invested portfolio companies where he invested. Gustavo holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Universidade de São Paulo-USP. He swam professionally in his youth and still loves competitive open-water swimming.
Prince Max von Liechtenstein is the Founder and Chairman of Lightrock's Board and Chairman of LGT Group. He founded Lightrock as an expression of the Princely family’s entrepreneurial approach, long-term perspective, and commitment to sustainability. Prince Max is convinced that scalable commercial solutions to global challenges not only have a sustainable positive impact on society and the environment but also represent attractive investment opportunities. He has been the CEO of LGT since 2006. He started his professional career in the private equity industry where he worked from 1993 to 2005 for J.P. Morgan Partners and Industri Kapital, a leading private equity firm in the Nordics. He holds an undergraduate degree from the European Business School and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and exploring the outdoors.
Nonnie is an Office Manager at Lightrock. She is a firm believer that impact investing has positively affected political, economic, and social development, making economies more robust whilst addressing issues of underdevelopment. Prior to joining Lightrock, Nonnie worked for a construction company in Nairobi managing projects and logistics. She has experience supporting teams in both the private and public sectors. Nonnie holds a BA International Relations from United States International University-Africa. Due to her love for nature and honey, you will find her either planting trees or building beehives.
Cornelius is a Strategic Partner at Lightrock. He is also an impact investor, investing in and serving on the boards of startups and later-stage companies with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and sustainable business models. Prior to serving as an impact investor, he was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he advised financial institutions, energy companies, public-sector organizations, and other clients on growth strategies and large-scale transformations. Cornelius holds a PhD in Retail Banking from EBS University and an MBA from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. He enjoys travelling, cooking, swimming and above all spending time with his wife and his two 11 and 13 year old children.
Olivia is a Personal Assistant to the Investment Team at Lightrock. She enjoys working in a fast-growing company with an entrepreneurial spirit and being part of a close-knit team. Olivia has worked in a variety of EA roles at other financial companies such as Budweiser Brewing Group and Helios Investment Partners. She holds a BSc degree in Business Administration from the University of Bath. In her free time, Olivia enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with friends and family, including her two cats!