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:

  • Director of Angler Ltd. Zagreb, Croatia (since 2015)

  • Co-founder and partner at Cedars Ltd, Ljubljana (since 2020)

  • Partner (passive - investor) of the regionally focused private equity fund Blue Sea Capital SCSp, Luxembourg (2011)

  • President of the Supervisory Board, Aroma Global 3 Ltd., Croatia (since March 2022)

  • Partner and co-founder (active) of Blue Sea Capital SCSp, Luxembourg/Zagreb (2011-2015)

  • Co-founder and the leading partner at company Vafer Ltd. (2008-2010)

  • Managing Director of M&A specialist Publikum Korpfin Ltd. (2007-2008)

  • Head of the business development (M&A) department at Telekom Slovenija Jsc. (2006-2007)

  • Assistant to the CEO of Mobitel Ltd. (2002-2006)

  • COO at Internet transaction provider Eon Ltd (2000-2002)

  • 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:

  • Leed Independent Non-Executive Director NEPI Rockcastle (since 2019)

  • Supervisory Board Member, Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (since 2016)

  • Independent Supervisory Board Member, Credit Bank of Moscow (since 2016 till 14. 3. 2022)

  • Supervisory Board Member at 10 financial institutions in Central Eastern Europe between 2005 and 2014

  • 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

        Education: 
        • 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) 
        Career:
        • 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) 

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