Supervisory Board

Primož Karpe, MSc.
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2020-2024
Education:
- Obtained a master’s degree from San Diego State University (Master of Science - Business Administration - concentration Finance)
- Graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana (majoring in Finance)
Career:
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Director of Angler Ltd. Zagreb, Croatia (since 2015)
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Co-founder and partner at Cedars Ltd, Ljubljana (since 2020)
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Partner (passive - investor) of the regionally focused private equity fund Blue Sea Capital SCSp, Luxembourg (2011)
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President of the Supervisory Board, Aroma Global 3 Ltd., Croatia (since March 2022)
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Partner and co-founder (active) of Blue Sea Capital SCSp, Luxembourg/Zagreb (2011-2015)
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Co-founder and the leading partner at company Vafer Ltd. (2008-2010)
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Managing Director of M&A specialist Publikum Korpfin Ltd. (2007-2008)
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Head of the business development (M&A) department at Telekom Slovenija Jsc. (2006-2007)
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Assistant to the CEO of Mobitel Ltd. (2002-2006)
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COO at Internet transaction provider Eon Ltd (2000-2002)
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FX trader/Head of the ALM department at SKB banka d.d. (1996-2000)
Other important positions and achievements:
- Co-founder and a partner in an independent, highly successful regionally focused private equity fund, which made its name by investing in the anti-cyclical sectors of healthcare provision, well-known food brands and pharma packaging
- Mentor of several prospective regional start-ups and equity fundraising specialist
- Advisory board and Investment Committee member at regional VC and regional buyout funds
- EBRD’s Team Coordinator for the IPO pre-listing programme
- Extensive working experience with the large institutional and Gov’t investors, including US AID (DAI) as the independent contractor
Andreas Klingen
Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2019-2023
Education:
- Master of Business Administration, Rotterdam School of Management, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Master of Science in Physics, Technical University, Berlin, Germany
Career:
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Leed Independent Non-Executive Director NEPI Rockcastle (since 2019)
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Supervisory Board Member, Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (since 2016)
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Independent Supervisory Board Member, Credit Bank of Moscow (since 2016 till 14. 3. 2022)
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Supervisory Board Member at 10 financial institutions in Central Eastern Europe between 2005 and 2014
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Independent Banking consultant, entrepreneur, Berlin, Germany (since 2014)
- Deputy CEO, CFO PC Erste Bank, Kiev, Ukraine (2010-2013)
- Head of Strategic Group Development in Erste Group Bank, Vienna, Austria (2005-2010)
- Senior Vice President, Investment Banking, Financial institutions in JP Morgan, London, UK (1998-2005)
- Senior Assoicate, Investment Banking, Lazards, Frankfurt Germany, (1993-1998)
- Qualified Board Member« recognised by Deutsche Börse, Germany (2022)
Shrenik Dhirajlal Davda, MSc.
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2019-2023
Education:
- Masters of Business Administration, INSEAD. Fontainebleau, France
- Bachelor of Laws, London School of Economics & Political Science. London, U.K.
Career:
- Lay Member of the Board of IPSO, UK (from 8. 3. 2022)
- Independent Member of the Supervisory Board, Ukrgasbank. Kyiv, Ukraine (2015-)
- Partner, NECP LLP. London, UK (2013-)
- CEO, Gryphon Emerging Markets Ltd. London, U.K. (2011-2013)
- Adviser, Blackfish Capital Ltd. London, U.K (2010-2011)
- Director, Deutsche Bank Ltd. London, U.K. (2007–2010)
- Co-Founder, New Europe Capital Partners Ltd. London, UK
- IB Head Baltics, Balkans, Ukraine, JP Morgan Ltd. London, UK (1989-2005)
- Manager, Gulf International Bank Ltd London, UK (1982-1987)
Gregor Rok Kastelic
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2019-2023
Education:
- International MBA, South Carolina University, Columbia, USA
- Bachelor of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Career:
- Managing Director, Head of Emerging Europe, Financial Institutions, ING Bank, London (2010–present)
- Managing Director, Co-Head of Private Equity Division, Silkroutefinancial (UK) ltd, London (2009-2010)
- Executive Director, Financial Institutions Team, Morgan Stanley, London (2006-2008)
- Principal Banker, Financial Institutions Team, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London (2003-2006)
- Senior Associate, CEEMEA Investment Banking Team, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, London (1999-2002)
- Senior Equity Analyst, CAIB Investment Bank, London (1995-1999)
Mark William Lane Richards, MSc.
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2019-2023
Education
- Accelerated management programme, London Business School (1995)
- Chartered Institute of Bankers, Associate (1990)
- M.A. Modern History and Economics 1st class, Oxford University (1984-1987)
Career
- Chairman Vencap International(UK based Venture Capital focused investment firm) (since 2021)
- Non Executive Director, Sheffield Haworth Ltd (London-based Financial services global Executive Search firm) (since 2016)
- Non Exec Director BPL Global ( Lloyds of London insurance Broker since 2020)
- Non Executive Director, and Chair of the Risk Committee, CIB Bank Egypt (2014-2020)
- Chief Executive, IPGL Ltd.(Financial services focused single family office) (2016-2018)
- Partner and Head of Financial Services, Actis Private Equity (a major emerging markets focused private equity firm) (2005–2016)
- Senior Executive Roles at Barclays Bank Plc. included Director Group corporate development, Strategy Director, and Chief Financial officer International Offshore Banking, originally a Corporate Banker (1987-2005)
David Eric Simon
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2020-2024
Education:
- IFS School of Finance (1974)
- City of London College, UK (1970)
Career:
- Chief Restructuring Officer and Advisor to the General Manager, Czech Export Bank a.s. (2013-2014)
- Advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Prague (2012-2013)
- Advisor (1994-2012), Head of Restructuring (2004-2007), Head of Central Europe Bad Debts Unit (2007 onwards) and Senior Restructuring Officer (2007-2012), Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka a.s.
- Independent Banking Consultant, cooperating with USAID and EBRD (1992-1994)
- International Banking Consultant, Morgan Grenfell & Co (1993-1994)
- Assistant General Manager Tijari Finance Limited (wholly owned subsidiary Commercial Bank of Kuwait), (1988-1992)
- Joint Branch Manager, Byblos Bank Sal, London (1986-1988)
- Assistant Vice President, American Express Bank, London (1980-1986)
- Senior Credit Analyst, Manufacturers Hanover Trust, London (1978-1980)
- National Westminster Bank, London (1971-1977)
Verica Trstenjak, Ph.D.
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2020-2024
Education:
- Doctor of Science (Law), University of Ljubljana (1996)
- Master of Law (1991)
- Bachelor of Law (1985)
Career:
- Professor of European Union Law at University in Ljubljana, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, University of Vienna (LLM Programme) (since 2018)
- A member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague (since 2019)
- Professor for European law at University of Vienna (2013-2018)
- Member of advisory council ( arbitration) by Energy Community
- Advocate General of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg (2006-2012)
- A judge at the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg (2004-2006)
- A secretary general of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (2000)
- State Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology (1996-2000)
- Head of the legal department at the Ministry of Science and Technology (1994-1996)
Islam Osama Zekry, Ph.D.
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2021-2025
Education:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), International Business, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, USA
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Financial Mathematics, Banking Performance, Westbrook University, Minnesota, USA
Career:
- Chief Data Science Officer, Commercial International Bank, Egypt (2015-present)
- Business Analysis, Performance Measurement & Planning Director, Commercial International Bank, Egypt (2008-2015)
- Head of Management Information Systems (MIS) & Analytics Team, Commercial International Bank, Egypt (2004-2008)
- Senior Management Accountant, CIT Private Equity Global Fund, Toronto (2000-2004)
- Financial Analyst, Merrill Lynch, Investment Advisory JV (1998-2000)
- CIB Housing association, President of the Supervisory Board (2014-present)
- Steering committee member in Smart Africa, an International alliance that spans across half the African continent with the purpose of accelerating sustainable data led digital transformation (2019-present)
- Subject matter expert and contributing member in the EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force (2020-present)
- Member of first Egyptian AI council, which is sponsored by the Egyptian president to formulate and execute EGYP AI Vision for 2030 (2020-present)
Members of the Supervisory Board, representatives of employees
Sergeja Kočar, MSc.
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2020-2024
Education:
- Master of Science – Faculty of Management, University of Primorska (2016)
- Specialist in Management - Faculty of Management, University of Primorska (2006)
- Bachelor of Organisational Management – Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University in Maribor (1999)
Career:
- Professional Member of NLB Works Council, President of Committee for HR and Business Processes – NLB (2019-2023)
- Senior Specialist for Enterprises, NLB Innovative Entrepreneurship Centre – NLB (2016-2019)
- Senior Area Adviser, Procurement and CREM – NLB (2015-2016)
- Supervisory Board Member, NLB Propria, družba za upravljanje z nepremičninami, d.o.o., Ljubljana (2012-2014)
- Director of Procurement and CREM – NLB (2012-2015)
- President of Training Committee – Bank Association of Slovenia (2010-2012)
- Deputy Director of Human Resources and Head of Training Centre and Head of HR Development and Training – NLB (2008-2012)
- Head of HR Development – NLB (2004-2008)
- Various professional jobs in the area of HR Development and Training, International Financial Institutions and Retail Banking - NLB (1989-2003)
Tadeja Žbontar Rems, M.Sc.
Member of the Supervisory Board
Term of office: 2021-2025
- Master of Science – Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana (2001)
- Bachelor of Economics (majoring in Marketing) – Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana (1994)
- MBA programme Management and Organisation (majoring in Banking Management), Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana (1998)
- Independent internal auditor in area of Regulatory Relations – NLB, Internal Audit, (2022 – till present day)
- Head of Project Office – NLB, Strategy and Business Development (2013–2022)
- Head of IT Controlling – NLB, IT Shared Service Centre (2008–2013)
- Head of Team on the project implementation of support for corporate banking in loans, collateral, letters of credit, guarantees and collections – NLB (2001–2008)
- Head of Team on the project implementation of support for retail banking in loans and collateral – NLB (1997–2001)
- Various expert positions in the field of loans and customer credit rating, collaborator on various projects (e.g. Data Model project, NADIS/creation of a new IT system for corporate and retail loans and deposits) – NLB, Marketing and Technology Development (1994–1997)