• Fish production operations management and new project development expert with 28 years of international experience, majority of which was with some of the biggest salmon producers in the world.
• Former Consultant and Program Manager of an aquaculture development program funded by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture. This program is focused on achieving targets in the 2030 economy diversification vision of developing 600,000 tons of cage finfish aquaculture production.
• Previously was Director of the Fish Business Unit of Saudi Arabia’s largest shrimp and fish aquaculture operation. He installed 3 new offshore farms in 2 years with combined capacity of 15,000 tons. He overcame technical problems in the broodstock/hatchery, expanded the business into fish processing, and latterly managed international sales and logistics. Over his 3 years of service, he built up a high performing international team through all levels.
• Spent 5 years as the General Manager of Aquaculture for Huon Aquaculture, Australia’s second largest salmon producer. He trebled production to 15,000 tons per annum and covered marine site management, boat building, new site and equipment development, fish health management, feed development and contracts, environmental management of operations, R&D, government liaison, and obtaining global certifications. He also strategized 5-Year growth and development plans with budget and KPIs (financial and operational), and recruited and developed a high performing management team. The Huon business
  achieved a successful IPO at the end of his tenure.
• Also served as Hatcheries Manager at Huon Aquaculture for 3 years, responsible for the operation of 5 hatcheries and the development of 2 large RAS systems.
• For 6 years was a Regional Business Manager for the world’s largest Atlantic salmon farmer, Marine Harvest (“MH”), in Scotland, in charge of production of 18,000 tons per annum from 17 farms and 125 employees. Was part of select team that achieved compound growth of 36% per annum for the company via organic expansion and acquisition, and cut operating costs by 25% through business evolution. During his 18 years at MH, he developed an in-depth understanding of farm management and operating / technical processes, feed development and strategies to optimize fish performance and risk management.
• Also served as Fresh Water Manager for MH in Scotland for 5 years, responsibilities included production of 12 million smolt, 18 million fry and 50 million eggs from 2 broodstock farms, 9 Loch sites and 7 hatcheries including 2 RAS farms. Part of the team that led the merger of 2 of the largest salmon farming businesses in Scotland

• More than 20 years working internationally in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) multinationals across Europe, The Middle East, Africa and Asia, where he amassed a successful record of both start-up and business disposals consistently delivering and exceeding business objectives.
• Spent last 4 years as Director Middle East and North Africa at National Aquaculture Group. Retained initially as consultant to develop Sales, Marketing and NPD strategy, then requested to remain and execute the strategy. Has been responsible for local and international sales with specific focus on Saudi Arabia, China, Japan and Far East.
• Prior to that, provided expertise and consulting services to businesses operating in, or wishing to enter, the Middle East and Africa Region. Delivering strategic planning support, building organisational frameworks, financial structuring and manufacturing through to route to market and on the ground execution in sales and marketing.
• Former Head of Middle East and Africa at Novartis Consumer Health. Restructured 2 former single business units into new Middle East and Africa Operating Region combining over 32 countries into 7 customer facing business units with MD’s reporting centrally to this position. Additional functional direct reports included QA, R&D, Finance, Marketing and Supply Chain.
• Also was CEO FMCG at Al Khayyat Investments for 4 years, where he was recruited to build and develop 3 Sales and Distribution Divisions and troubleshoot Fitness Division and Group Logistics function. Major focus on setting strategic agenda and new business development.
• Former Vice President Customer Development (Asia Africa Middle East) at Unilever Plc, from 2000 to 2009. Within AAME leadership team, functionally responsible for sales, trade marketing and operations within a $500 million 40+ country Food Service and Solutions business spanning Australia, Asia, Africa and Middle East. Major focus on organizational capability building, setting sales and customer marketing strategy and management of global accounts through team of account directors.
• Prior to that, was Managing Director of Inchcape Plc, responsible for three divisions; Sales and Distribution, Contract Catering and Retail.
• Director Europe of Pepsico, from 1990 to 1996. European leader of global management development team responsible for implementation of best practice, strategic development tools, operational excellence and cross-functional management development.

• Steve has 17 years of professional experience in broad areas of Finance across geographical regions.
• Prior to joining Pure Salmon, he was the former CFO of Crystal Jade Holdings Group, an F&B group company owned by a private equity Fund.
• Steve brings with him a wealth of knowledge on FMCG businesses, having worked for 14 years in Unilever, a top FMCG company.  He was responsible for financial accounting & reporting, treasury and internal audit for all entities within North Asia.
• Steve was also the North Asia Controller for a EUR4 billion business unit of Unilever and is experienced in improving business performance, partnerships, post M&A integration, investor relations and transformation management.
• Steve holds an MBA from National Sun Yat-Sen University, Taiwan and B.A in Risk Management and Insurance from National Chengchi University, Taiwan.

• Ten years of experience in aquaculture and managing recirculating aquaculture systems.
• Former Project Manager for Cleveras, a global RAS technology, and services provider.
• Previously a Service and Aftersales Manager for CM Aqua Technologies from 2017 to 2019, focusing on RAS water filtration, sludge treatment, disinfection, and oxygenation.
• Manager at AKVA Group Denmark from 2015 to 2016 in charge of RAS management support for Middle East projects.
• In 2014 and 2016, Assistant Manager and Water Quality Consultant at Danish Salmon, where he managed the Atlantic Salmon RAS grow-out in Denmark.
• From 2013 to 2014 served as Production Manager for National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA) in Saudi Arabia, where he managed the 3,000m3 marine RAS nursery for Asian Seabass.
• Production Manager for Ösel Harvest from 2010 to 2012 in Estonia, where he led the entire process of RAS Trout production.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Sciences – Agricultural enterprise management from Estonian University of Life Sciences.

• Over 10 years of experience in aquaculture and managing recirculating aquaculture systems.
• Former Fish Farm Grow-Out Manager and Development Engineer for Aquabounty Farm, a RAS facility in Indiana.
• Previously at Invermar from 2010 to 2017, most recently as Head of Planning and Production Control where he supervised the application of the production plan from planting to harvesting.
• From 2016 to 2017, was a AKVA Control Management System Super-User for Invermar.
• Served as Head of Fresh Water Department from 2015 to 2017 where he planned and controlled the entire fresh water production process: reproduction, incubation, alevin period, and smoltification.
• Facility Manager of Recirculating Systems from 2010 to 2015 where he led the entire production process.
• Recirculation System Assistant with Marine Harvest Chile from 2007 to 2009 in charge of first feeding and smoltification.
• Bachelors Degree in Engineering Sciences – Aquaculture and Fish Farming from Universidad Católica de la Santísma Concepción in Chile

• Prior to be a full time employee at Pure Salmon, Léa was running her own boutique consulting firm in strategic communications since 2016. She consulted for a wide range of companies across different work cultures worldwide, focused mainly on formulating communication strategies to serve fundraising purposes.
• As a consultant, Léa worked for 8F/Pure Salmon since their inception. At that time, she was mainly responsible for the creation and coordination of all marketing initiatives.
• Formerly, she managed the marketing and communications department of inGaia for 4 years, a startup which soon became the largest real estate marketplace in Brazil. Under her management, her team successfully developed the go-to-market strategies of five new business verticals.
• She worked for a year as project manager at Saguez-and-Partners, an integrated communications agency based in Paris, where she had as client top food and luxury companies.
• Léa worked as an assistant and analyst of a lobbying firm based in Paris where she worked closely with official members of the French government and EU institutions.
• Passionate and engaged in causes related to the protection of the environment, responsible food consumption and new forms of education.
• Léa speaks fluently 4 languages and holds a masters degree from Sciences Po Paris.

• Over 20 years of experience in investment management and business development.
• Former Chief Investment Officer, Head of Alternative Products and member of the executive board of directors for Société Générale Asset Management (“SGAM”) Japan where he worked for close to 17 years until 2007.
• Key achievements in SGAM: Successfully receiving the mandate from Japan’s largest public pension fund, GPIF, and managing it for 10 years during which he was the top performer in his style class; developing the domestic and global quantitative fund management platforms – the second largest product in SGAM Japan; and setting up the alternative investment and structured products platform.
• 2007 to 2009, was Director of Research at Asia’s largest hedge fund which managed over USD3 billion at its peak. Key achievements include institutionalizing risk and compliance management approaches, installing a formal investment process, and improving overall performance of analysts and short positions.
• 2009 to end 2012, was Senior Director at Thomson Reuters, in charge of creating investment management content. Key achievements included launching 2 products: Investment Views – for investment banking and fund management clients, and Trading Japan – a platform for traders.
• In 2013, founded TJT Advisory, a boutique M&A and business development advisory firm targeting Japanese small to mid-cap firms. Successfully gathered clients from niche and leading industries, and developed market entry, product placement and investment strategies. Helped a mid-cap Osaka firm gain close to 30% market share and attain market leader position in Philippines. Also provided consultancy services to foreign firms to enter into the Japanese market.
• CFA certified since 1997, Financial Risk Manager certified since 2001.
• Masters (M.Sc.) in Mathematical Finance from University of Oxford, New College.
• Masters (M.A.) in International Relations from International University of Japan.
• Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Middle East Technical University, Turkey.
• Has published several articles and served twice as a guest researcher at a public think-tank writing policy white papers and doing research on Japan’s pension policy

• 15 years management experience, 5 of which as CEO of Pure Salmon Poland.
• Prior to Pure Salmon Poland, was involved in management consultancy of small privately held companies in the retail sector.
• Advised on operational and managerial performance improvement.
• Prior to that founded and headed partnership stores division in Empik Ltd., a leading retail chain in Poland.
• Previously worked as regional manager for Empik Ltd.
• 5 years’ experience as a lawyer working in Israel.
• LLB (law) University of London.
• BA International relations Kent State University, USA

Axel Hoffmann has 20 years of experience in insurance, reinsurance and asset management. Starting at Munich Re, he had responsibilities ranging from financial reinsurance, corporate finance, M&A, risk capital modelling and asset liability management to Solvency II. Afterwards, Axel served AXA Germany as director for asset liability management, investment strategy and alternative investments and then joined AXA Belgium as a board member and CIO, where he was part of AXA’s global CIO team, which is responsible for € 600 billion of insurance investments.

Since 2013, Axel has been a board member and CIO of Volkswohl Bund insurance group. Reshaping investment strategy, risk capital and adding new asset classes with a specific focus on alternative assets, which has been honoured with awards for best insurance company and best alternative assets investor (by portfolio institutionell magazine).

Axel holds a diploma in mathematics from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich and earned the M.B.A. degree at The College of Insurance, New York, N.Y. He is member of the German Actuarial Association (Aktuar DAV) and CFA charter holder.

James Munce is the COO / CFO of Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners. James started his career with PwC auditing private equity and hedge funds whilst qualifying as a chartered accountant before moving to Merrill Lynch (BAML) in 2007. James spent 11 years at BAML building out the award-winning Merrill Lynch Investment Solutions (MLIS) UCITS platform that partnered with top tier investment managers to provide European distribution and infrastructure. MLIS had peak assets of $6.5 BN and James served as both COO and CEO. Prior to joining Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners James was the COO of the Australian multi boutique business Fidante Partners with assets of $65 BN across 14 boutique partners.

Kristen Eshak Weldon is Head of Food Innovation & Downstream Strategy at Louis Dreyfus Company with responsibility for both downstream investments as well as early stage investments in ag/foodtech.

Kristen spent 13.5 years at Blackstone, most recently as a Senior Managing Director for the Hedge Fund Solutions Group. Prior to Blackstone, she worked in commodity derivatives at JPMorgan.

Kristen holds a MSc in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School and a BSc in Finance & International Business from Georgetown University.

Stephane Farouze has 25 years of investment experience. Prior to founding 8F Investment Partners, Stephane was Chairman of Alternatives for Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management. Before moving into that role, he was the Global Head of Alternatives and Fund Solutions and Member of the DeAWM Executive Committee. Stephane spent three years as a member of the Management Executive Committee for both Deutsche Asset Management and the Private Bank. As Head of Alternatives and Fund Solutions, Stephane’s team managed more than 200 professionals globally and was directly responsible for a total of US$50 billion of assets in Private Equity, Hedge Funds and Retirement Solutions.

Prior to that, Stephane served as the Global Head of Deutsche Bank’s Fund Derivatives and Hybrids Group within the Corporate Bank & Securities division, during which time the team was awarded the Risk Magazine award for ‘Hedge Fund Derivatives House of the Year’ 6 times in a row, the HFM award for ‘Best Overall Investment Platform’ and ‘Best Managed Account Platform’ twice, as well as various UCITS Platform and Product awards. In addition, Stephane was Awarded ‘Best Active Manager’ by Risk Magazine in 2002.

Before joining Deutsche Bank, Stephane was a Partner at Paradigm Global Advisors. He was also the Global Head of Sales and Structuring at Societe Generale Asset Management. Stephane has also worked at other financial institutions such as BNP, Commerzbank, Smith Barney and Paine Webber. Until 2009, Stephane was also a Director of Tarrant Apparel Group, a company listed on the Nasdaq since 2003.

Stephane holds Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts and Sciences and a Business Administration Degree in Finance from San Diego State University.

Karim Ghannam is based in Singapore and has 20 years of experience in fund management and investment banking. Karim was the Managing Director and Head of Alternatives & Fund solutions in Asia Pacific for Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management. Karim’s responsibilities included oversight of the bank’s hedge fund, private equity/private markets, third-party mutual funds and retirement/hybrids groups in the region. He was a member of the Alternatives and Fund Solutions Executive Committee and the Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management Asia Pacific Executive Committee.

Karim joined Deutsche Bank Group in 2011 with 14 years of industry experience. Prior to that, Karim was the global co-head of DB Private Equity & Private Markets – Deutsche Bank’s US$11 billion AUM primary, secondary and co-investment platform – and co-chair of the Global Investment Committee. He was the Global Head of Private Markets within Deutsche Bank’s Wealth Management business with overall responsibility for product selection, structuring and management within the private equity, real estate and credit space.

Before joining Deutsche Bank Group, Karim was at Argan Capital, a European mid-market private equity fund, where he spent 10 years, most recently as a Partner responsible for principal investments. Karim was a member of the investment committee at Argan Capital (and its predecessor, Bank of America Capital Partners) and helped oversee over €600m of investments. Karim led a number of European private equity deals, including structuring financing, implementing strategic change and exercising executive and board control. Prior to joining the Argan team in 2001, he worked with Merrill Lynch in London and Lehman Brothers in New York, where he concentrated on financing and M&A transactions for industrial growth, energy and power, and telecommunications companies.

Karim holds a Masters degree from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

Martin Fothergill is based in London and has 24 years of experience in the finance industry, including 18 years at Deutsche Bank where he most recently held the position of Managing Director, Global Head of Multi-Asset Products with responsibility for hedge funds, private equity and mutual funds. He was also a member of the Global Investment Solutions Executive Committee.

Previously, as Managing Director, Global Head of Liquid Alternatives for the Alternatives & Fund Solutions group at Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management, Martin was responsible for a range of alternatives businesses including a US$12 billion managed account platform. This business won numerous awards over a multi-year period including best overall investment platform and best UCITS platform. He was also a Member of the Alternatives & Fund Solutions Executive Committee and the Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management UK Executive Committee.

Prior to this role Martin was Managing Director in the Global Fund Derivatives group in the investment bank where he held various roles including the set-up and development of the managed account business and as head of investment fund research covering long only funds, hedge funds and private equity.

Before joining Deutsche Bank Martin held investment fund research roles at Bankers Trust, Santander and ING Barings (Baring Securities) where his focus was primary on long-only closed-end funds typically investing in emerging and frontier markets.

Martin holds a Masters Degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Exeter and has written articles on hedge funds and had papers published including in the Journal of Alternative Investments.

Kaylynn Lee is based in Singapore and has 5 years of experience in the private equity industry. Prior to joining 8F, she was a Senior Associate at F&H Fund Management, a pan-Asian private equity platform co-founded by the ex-CTO of Alibaba. In her time at F&H, Kaylynn triple-hatted the growth capital investments, real estate redevelopment, as well as hospitality funds.

Kaylynn helped to manage F&H’s private equity growth capital investments, covering the investment value chain full cycle from deal sourcing, due diligence, execution, to portfolio management and divestment. In particular, she oversaw consumer and technology targets and portfolio companies operating in and expanding to Southeast Asia and Israel.

F&H’s first real estate fund comprised setup, asset acquisition, financing, redevelopment, and marketing for a strata-titled, mixed-use building in Singapore, which Kaylynn took charge of stakeholder interests. This included shareholder capital calls and update reports, as well as day-to-day developer operations.

In partnership with Ctrip (NASDAQ: CTRP), F&H launched its pioneer hospitality fund to acquire and manage hotel properties in the UK. Kaylynn assisted in the asset management and asset acquisition efforts, including on-site due diligence, market study, execution, and asset enhancement initiatives.

Kaylynn holds a Magna Cum Laude in Bachelor of Business Management, double major Finance and Operations Management, from Singapore Management University. She also completed a half year exchange program at the University of Southern California.