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General Enquiries: Contact@planetfirst.partners
Entrepreneurs & Investors: Entrepreneurs@planetfirst.partners
Mr Alejandro Agag will contribute his extensive political, entrepreneurial and fundraising experience. He became the political aide to the Spanish Prime Minister, José Maria Aznar and later was elected Member of the European Parliament. He was one of the founders of the FIA Formula E Championship and is the current chairman of Formula E Holdings, having been its CEO from 2012-19. He holds a degree in Economics and Business studies from the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros.
Connie Collingsworth is the COO for business operations of the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest charitable private foundation. She has many years of experience as a corporate/securities lawyer, with expertise in venture capital, private equity and hedge fund investments and M&A transactions. She hold an LLM in International Business Law from Exeter, England, a Juris Doctor from U. of Nebraska and a B.A. in English literature from Andrews University
Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister of Belgium from 1999-2008 and an MEP and Chair of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament from 2009-19, is one of the most experienced politicians in Europe and has an unparalleled network of contacts within the EU. He studied law at the University of Ghent and became the president of the liberal PVV party at age 29. He sat on several corporate boards including the Dutch pensions APG Nederland, the Belgian firm Exmar and he is a current independent director of investment company Sofina.
Prof. Jean Christophe von Pfetten has more than 25 years of academic knowledge, diplomatic experience, and negotiations skills with China. Jean Christophe is currently board member of half a dozen multinationals, Chairman of the Institute for East West Strategic Studies, Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University and Visiting Professor at People’s University in Beijing. Jean Christophe is a French citizen, born 1967, educated at Strasbourg and Oxford University.
Lindsay Pattison is one of the most influential figures in the field of marketing, advertising and business-transformation. She is currently global Chief Client Officer at WPP PLC, the world’s largest marketing services organisation. Mrs Lindsay Pattison holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Stirling and is completing the TLC Leaders Program; a leadership curriculum delivered by Harvard Business School faculty.
Sabine Scheunert is a leading executive in the European automotive space, with 20+ years of experience across multiple functions and territories for Mercedes-Benz, Citroen & BMW. She launched her career in the automobile industry at BMW as an executive in product management. In 2010, she joined PSA as the worldwide head of Customer Relationship Management. Since July 2016, she has been heading up the digital unit at Mercedes-Benz as VP Digital & IT Marketing/Sales. Sabine studied Business Management at the FDHW and completed executive course on strategy at HBS.
Sandie O’Connor has more than 30 years of leadership experience across capital markets, finance, treasury and regulatory affairs. She is currently a board member of several organizations including Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Terex, a listed global equipment manufacturer and Ripple Labs, Inc. a leading provider of blockchain solutions for global payments. Sandie holds Bachelor of Science, Finance & International Business from NYU Stern.
Vicente López-Ibor Mayor has been a key figure in the energy sector for more than 25 years, with extensive experience and knowledge in its operational, legal and regulatory issues. He is currently president of the European Federation of Energy Law Association, and of various other association in the sector. Mr. Vicente López-Ibor Mayor holds a PhD in Law. He is a Harvard Business School (OPM 50) Graduate and a Superior Studies Business Institute (IESE) AMP Graduate. He also holds an MBA from the High Centre of Business Administration.
Mr Alejandro Agag will contribute his extensive political, entrepreneurial and fundraising experience. He became the political aide to the Spanish Prime Minister, José Maria Aznar and later was elected Member of the European Parliament. He was one of the founders of the FIA Formula E Championship and is the current chairman of Formula E Holdings, having been its CEO from 2012-19. He holds a degree in Economics and Business studies from the Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros.
Connie Collingsworth is the COO for business operations of the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest charitable private foundation. She has many years of experience as a corporate/securities lawyer, with expertise in venture capital, private equity and hedge fund investments and M&A transactions. She hold an LLM in International Business Law from Exeter, England, a Juris Doctor from U. of Nebraska and a B.A. in English literature from Andrews University
Guy Verhofstadt, prime minister of Belgium from 1999-2008 and an MEP and Chair of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament from 2009-19, is one of the most experienced politicians in Europe and has an unparalleled network of contacts within the EU. He studied law at the University of Ghent and became the president of the liberal PVV party at age 29. He sat on several corporate boards including the Dutch pensions APG Nederland, the Belgian firm Exmar and he is a current independent director of investment company Sofina.
Prof. Jean Christophe von Pfetten has more than 25 years of academic knowledge, diplomatic experience, and negotiations skills with China. Jean Christophe is currently board member of half a dozen multinationals, Chairman of the Institute for East West Strategic Studies, Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University and Visiting Professor at People’s University in Beijing. Jean Christophe is a French citizen, born 1967, educated at Strasbourg and Oxford University.
Lindsay Pattison is one of the most influential figures in the field of marketing, advertising and business-transformation. She is currently global Chief Client Officer at WPP PLC, the world’s largest marketing services organisation. Mrs Lindsay Pattison holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Stirling and is completing the TLC Leaders Program; a leadership curriculum delivered by Harvard Business School faculty.
Sabine Scheunert is a leading executive in the European automotive space, with 20+ years of experience across multiple functions and territories for Mercedes-Benz, Citroen & BMW. She launched her career in the automobile industry at BMW as an executive in product management. In 2010, she joined PSA as the worldwide head of Customer Relationship Management. Since July 2016, she has been heading up the digital unit at Mercedes-Benz as VP Digital & IT Marketing/Sales. Sabine studied Business Management at the FDHW and completed executive course on strategy at HBS.
Sandie O’Connor has more than 30 years of leadership experience across capital markets, finance, treasury and regulatory affairs. She is currently a board member of several organizations including Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Terex, a listed global equipment manufacturer and Ripple Labs, Inc. a leading provider of blockchain solutions for global payments. Sandie holds Bachelor of Science, Finance & International Business from NYU Stern.
Vicente López-Ibor Mayor has been a key figure in the energy sector for more than 25 years, with extensive experience and knowledge in its operational, legal and regulatory issues. He is currently president of the European Federation of Energy Law Association, and of various other association in the sector. Mr. Vicente López-Ibor Mayor holds a PhD in Law. He is a Harvard Business School (OPM 50) Graduate and a Superior Studies Business Institute (IESE) AMP Graduate. He also holds an MBA from the High Centre of Business Administration.
Our senior advisors support our team in evaluating investments, reviewing market conditions, and providing expertise to our portfolio companies. The advisors are engaged in the entire investment process from providing strategic advice on initial deal sourcing and assessment of potential investments, to joining the boards of portfolio companies.
Danny Schultz is an experienced VC, backing entrepreneurs who challenge convention and build companies capable of achieving significant long-term growth. He launched his career at Lehman Brothers, raising $15B+ for high-growth companies. In 1999, he co-founded Gotham Ventures, bringing together an extensive network of CEOs, VCs and key thought leaders from N.Y., Silicon Valley, Boston, L.A., Europe and Israel. As a pioneer in the Israeli tech scene, he paved the way for some of Israel’s most successful exits and maintains a strong connection with the “Start-up Nation’s” top CEOs. Danny majored in Economics at Columbia University.
David Reitman is an experienced senior banker & corporate finance advisor. He spent the last 25 years at Lazard and KPMG advising public and private companies, Private Equity and public sector CFO’s and boards across various sectors including TMT, industrials, energy, consumer, real estate and pharmaceuticals, on complex and often transformative financings, restructurings and broader strategic issues. Today, he advises a number of portfolio companies where there is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to growth, financing strategy and capital raising, and governance through an inclusive leadership style and clear objective setting. David holds a BA Honours Degree in Business from the City of London School of Business.
Riadh Shaiek is an experienced investor with a demonstrated history of working in the venture capital industry. Recently, he was a Partner at Demeter, a major player in private equity for ecological and energy transition, with €1B under management and more than 120 companies supported. Prior to that, Riadh was a partner at Finovam, an AMF regulated investment company investing in disruptive ideas and technologies in sectors such as Healthcare and Biotechnology, Agro-resources and Green Chemistry, Materials and Industrial Processes, Ecomobility, Energy and Cleantech. Riadh holds an MBA focused in Finance & General Management from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Nick Cator is passionate about disruptive brands, leading teams, empowering entrepreneurs to build and achieve their visions and sustainability. He is the founder and Managing Partner of Venturi, an investment platform for families looking to invest in the next generation of Asia’s consumer growth businesses. Over the past 20 years, Nick held a mix of investment & operational roles, including at Verlinvest, where he launched the firm’s office in Singapore and led several successful investments in the region. Nick holds a Master from Université de Louvain and completed executive education programmes at INSEAD and Stanford University.
Damian is a corporate financier, investor and company director with over twenty years experience in Asia. Damian initially qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and his subsequent career has encompassed mergers, acquisitions, disposals, fundraising and equity capital markets transactions in many countries and sectors. Over the last ten years, Damian's activities have broadened with the addition of direct investment in small and medium size companies and he is currently a shareholder and director of six companies operating in sectors as diverse as furniture, media and minerals. In 2009, Damian founded Tristar Capital, a privately-funded provider of capital focused on genuine partnerships aligned by long term growth and value creation aspirations.
Werner Van Lembergen is a senior trusted advisor with over 25 years experience in the international financial transaction practice. He has been very active as a lawyer in the private and public finance fields, representing investors, financial institutions, corporates and governments, throughout Europe and beyond. Werner is at the forefront of green debt finance in his field of practice. He was a Senior Partner and head Banking & Finance at Deloitte Legal in Belgium and was before at Freshfields, Bruckhaus Deringer and White & Case. Werner is a MC member of the University of Leuven’s America Europe Fund, a transatlantic thinktank on innovation and technology. He is also a senior advisor at a large Belgian federal public investment holding. Werner holds a LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School and completed executive education programmes at Oxford Saïd Business School.
Georgina has operated as an independent Leadership Advisor and Performance Coach since July 2018. She works with a select group of client-partners to optimise the Boards, Executive Teams, leader’s and People levers of portfolio companies, and to enhance the partnership dynamic between Investors, Chairs and CEO's. Having started her career in management consulting in Australia, Georgina spent a number of years leading Organisational Effectiveness and Talent functions of large global Financial Institutions. She then went on to lead the scale up of YSC’s European Private Equity arm, establishing a PE & VC focused proposition for both portfolio companies and Firms in the region. In building out this vertical with her team, Georgina partnered with a broad range of investment partners, from family offices to mid-market and large cap PE funds and Pension Funds. It was here that Georgina realised her passion for beyond the 'diagnosis' of leaders and dynamics in order to optimise them – helping them to grow as their businesses grow - and of helping her clients to better leverage the People function as a lever for value creation. She has worked across multiple industries, geographies and company sizes, with particular depth of expertise and enthusiasm for growth capital contexts. Georgina has studied a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW Australia and a Masters in Psychodynamics from London’s Tavistock Institute. She is an AOEC and ICF accredited coach and is actively involved with the Neuroleadership Institute. Today, she operates as an Independent NED on two Boards for whom the People and Culture levers are central to business growth and transformation.
Danny Schultz is an experienced VC, backing entrepreneurs who challenge convention and build companies capable of achieving significant long-term growth. He launched his career at Lehman Brothers, raising $15B+ for high-growth companies. In 1999, he co-founded Gotham Ventures, bringing together an extensive network of CEOs, VCs and key thought leaders from N.Y., Silicon Valley, Boston, L.A., Europe and Israel. As a pioneer in the Israeli tech scene, he paved the way for some of Israel’s most successful exits and maintains a strong connection with the “Start-up Nation’s” top CEOs. Danny majored in Economics at Columbia University.
David Reitman is an experienced senior banker & corporate finance advisor. He spent the last 25 years at Lazard and KPMG advising public and private companies, Private Equity and public sector CFO’s and boards across various sectors including TMT, industrials, energy, consumer, real estate and pharmaceuticals, on complex and often transformative financings, restructurings and broader strategic issues. Today, he advises a number of portfolio companies where there is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to growth, financing strategy and capital raising, and governance through an inclusive leadership style and clear objective setting. David holds a BA Honours Degree in Business from the City of London School of Business.
Riadh Shaiek is an experienced investor with a demonstrated history of working in the venture capital industry. Recently, he was a Partner at Demeter, a major player in private equity for ecological and energy transition, with €1B under management and more than 120 companies supported. Prior to that, Riadh was a partner at Finovam, an AMF regulated investment company investing in disruptive ideas and technologies in sectors such as Healthcare and Biotechnology, Agro-resources and Green Chemistry, Materials and Industrial Processes, Ecomobility, Energy and Cleantech. Riadh holds an MBA focused in Finance & General Management from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Nick Cator is passionate about disruptive brands, leading teams, empowering entrepreneurs to build and achieve their visions and sustainability. He is the founder and Managing Partner of Venturi, an investment platform for families looking to invest in the next generation of Asia’s consumer growth businesses. Over the past 20 years, Nick held a mix of investment & operational roles, including at Verlinvest, where he launched the firm’s office in Singapore and led several successful investments in the region. Nick holds a Master from Université de Louvain and completed executive education programmes at INSEAD and Stanford University.
Damian is a corporate financier, investor and company director with over twenty years experience in Asia. Damian initially qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and his subsequent career has encompassed mergers, acquisitions, disposals, fundraising and equity capital markets transactions in many countries and sectors. Over the last ten years, Damian's activities have broadened with the addition of direct investment in small and medium size companies and he is currently a shareholder and director of six companies operating in sectors as diverse as furniture, media and minerals. In 2009, Damian founded Tristar Capital, a privately-funded provider of capital focused on genuine partnerships aligned by long term growth and value creation aspirations.
Werner Van Lembergen is a senior trusted advisor with over 25 years experience in the international financial transaction practice. He has been very active as a lawyer in the private and public finance fields, representing investors, financial institutions, corporates and governments, throughout Europe and beyond. Werner is at the forefront of green debt finance in his field of practice. He was a Senior Partner and head Banking & Finance at Deloitte Legal in Belgium and was before at Freshfields, Bruckhaus Deringer and White & Case. Werner is a MC member of the University of Leuven’s America Europe Fund, a transatlantic thinktank on innovation and technology. He is also a senior advisor at a large Belgian federal public investment holding. Werner holds a LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School and completed executive education programmes at Oxford Saïd Business School.
Georgina has operated as an independent Leadership Advisor and Performance Coach since July 2018. She works with a select group of client-partners to optimise the Boards, Executive Teams, leader’s and People levers of portfolio companies, and to enhance the partnership dynamic between Investors, Chairs and CEO's. Having started her career in management consulting in Australia, Georgina spent a number of years leading Organisational Effectiveness and Talent functions of large global Financial Institutions. She then went on to lead the scale up of YSC’s European Private Equity arm, establishing a PE & VC focused proposition for both portfolio companies and Firms in the region. In building out this vertical with her team, Georgina partnered with a broad range of investment partners, from family offices to mid-market and large cap PE funds and Pension Funds. It was here that Georgina realised her passion for beyond the 'diagnosis' of leaders and dynamics in order to optimise them – helping them to grow as their businesses grow - and of helping her clients to better leverage the People function as a lever for value creation. She has worked across multiple industries, geographies and company sizes, with particular depth of expertise and enthusiasm for growth capital contexts. Georgina has studied a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW Australia and a Masters in Psychodynamics from London’s Tavistock Institute. She is an AOEC and ICF accredited coach and is actively involved with the Neuroleadership Institute. Today, she operates as an Independent NED on two Boards for whom the People and Culture levers are central to business growth and transformation.
