About Us: Board of Directors

United States

• Basak Yavuz

  Basak Yavuz

  Board, US
• Marc Balston

  Marc Balston

  Board, UK, US

  Marc Balston has been part of the EMpower board since 2013. Marc spent 17 years at Deutsche Bank where he was a Fixed Income Research Analyst and CTO.

• Patricia Ahn

  Patricia Ahn

  Goldman Sachs

  Board, US
  Goldman Sachs
• Eric Baurmeister

  Eric Baurmeister

  Underwriter, Board, US
• Kristin Ceva

  Kristin Ceva

  Payden & Rygel

  Board, US
  Payden & Rygel
• James Donald

  James Donald

  Lazard Asset Management

  Board, US
  Lazard Asset Management
• Carlos Fernandez-Aller

  Carlos Fernandez-Aller

  BAML

  Board, US
  BAML
• Beth Fredrick

  Beth Fredrick

  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  Board, US
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Michael Hirschhorn

  Michael Hirschhorn

  Board, US
• Tim Jensen

  Tim Jensen

  Underwriter, Board, US
• Kathleen Kinsella

  Kathleen Kinsella

  Board, US
• Robert Kushen

  Robert Kushen

  Porticus Foundation

  Board, US
  Porticus Foundation
• Kevin Murphy

  Kevin Murphy

  Board, US
• Rekha Nair

  Rekha Nair

  Board, US, Next Gen New York Council
• Osmin Rivera

  Osmin Rivera

  Goldman Sachs

  Board, US
  Goldman Sachs
• Matthew W. Ryan

  Matthew W. Ryan

  MFS Investment Management

  Board, US
  MFS Investment Management
• Cynthia Steele

  Cynthia Steele

  EMpower

  Board, HK, US

  Cynthia Steele, EMpower’s President and CEO, also serves on the Board of EMpower. Cynthia has been with EMpower since 2005.

  EMpower
• Jim Valone

  Jim Valone

  Premier Underwriters, Board, US

United Kingdom

• Marc Balston

  Marc Balston

  Board, UK, US

  Marc Balston has been part of the EMpower board since 2013. Marc spent 17 years at Deutsche Bank where he was a Fixed Income Research Analyst and CTO.

• Marcelo Assalin

  Marcelo Assalin

  William Blair

  Board, UK

  Marcelo Assalin joined as an EMpower Board Director in 2022. Marcleo is the Head of Emerging Markets Debt at William Blair where he has been working since 2020.
  

  William Blair
• Mary-Therese Barton

  Mary-Therese Barton

  Pictet

  Board, UK

  Mary-Therese Barton joined EMpower as a Board Director in 2023 and has played an integral role in the ESG partnership between EMpower and Pictet. Mary-Therese has served as the Head of Emerging Market Fixed Income and Equity Partner of Pictet where she has been since 2004.

  
  

  Pictet
• Jonathan Bell

  Jonathan Bell

  Cape Ann Asset Management

  Board, UK

  Jonathan Bell has served as an EMpower board member since 2020, and became EMpower’s UK treasurer in 2023. Jonathan has been with his firm, Cape Ann Asset Management, for 7 years. Cape Ann is an EMpower underwriter and generally hosts the UK team in their offices.

  Cape Ann Asset Management
• Andrew Curran

  Andrew Curran

  Board, UK

  Andrew Curran joined EMpower’s board in 2019. Andrew works at BMO Global Asset Management as a Director since 2021.

• Swatee Deepak

  Swatee Deepak

  Board, UK

  Swatee Deepak is EMpower’s current Co-Chair and has been with us since 2020. Swatee brings years of experience in the social justice and philanthropic field.

• Reggie Dodge

  Reggie Dodge

  Board, UK

  Reggie Dodge has been a UK Board Director since 2019. Reggie is Chief Compliance Officer at Atomic Invest.

• Adeel Khan

  Adeel Khan

  Barclays

  Board, UK

  Adeel Khan joined our UK Board in 2021. Adeel has been with Barclays Capital since 2017 and is the Head of Credit Business where he oversees its credit trading.

  Barclays
• Alessandra Labombarda

  Alessandra Labombarda

  BBVA

  Board, UK

  Alessandra Labombarda has served as a Board Director with EMpower since 2017. Alessandra has been part of BBVA since 2013, and serves as their Managing Director, Head of Emerging Markets Sales Europe.

  BBVA
• Jeremy Llewelyn

  Jeremy Llewelyn

  Board, UK

  Jeremy Llewelyn has been with EMpower since 2011. He previously resided as Co-Chair in the UK, and is currently the Chair of EMpower’s Global Executive Committee. Jeremy worked at Black River Investment from 2004-2016, and now enjoys retirement.

• Pontso Mafethe

  Pontso Mafethe

  Board, UK

  Pontso Mafethe has been a Board Director on our UK board since 2014. Pontso is the Director of Programmes at the African Women’s Development Fund, where she has been since 2020.

• John Patton

  John Patton

  Argentem Creek Partners

  Board, UK

  John Patton joined as an EMpower Board Director in 2020. John is a Founding Partner and Managing Director at Argentem Creek Partners since 2016.

  Argentem Creek Partners
• Colin Reedie

  Colin Reedie

  Legal & General

  Board, UK

  Colin Reedie joined the UK EMpower Board in 2019. Colin has been with Legal & General Investment Management since 2005, and currently is the Head of Active Strategies. Legal & General is one of EMpower’s generous Underwriters in the UK.

  Legal & General
• Kunal Shah

  Kunal Shah

  Goldman Sachs

  Board, UK

  Kunal Shah joined EMpower in 2016 as Board Member and has recently gone on to lead as Co-Chair. Kunal is Partner at Goldman Sachs where he has been there since 2004.

  Goldman Sachs
• Parvoleta Shtereva

  Parvoleta Shtereva

  Gemcorp Capital LLP

  Board, UK

  Parvoleta Shtereva has been with EMpower since 2012, and was Co-Chaired the Board in 2014-2020. Parvoleta is Partner at Gemcorp Capital LLP where she has worked since 2014.

  Gemcorp Capital LLP
• Ozan Tarman

  Ozan Tarman

  Deutsche Bank

  Board, UK

  Ozan Tarman has been a Director with EMpower since 2009. Ozan works at Deutsche Bank as Vice Chair of Global Macro and is part of the Deutsche Bank Underwriting Syndicate for EMpower.

  Deutsche Bank
• Toby West

  Toby West

  MarketAxess

  Board, UK

  Toby West joined the UK EMpower Board in 2020. Toby has been with MarketAxess since 2018 and is currently the Global Head of Marketing. MarketAxess has been an EMpower’s Underwriter since 2020.

  MarketAxess

Hong Kong

• Rachel Andrews

  Rachel Andrews

  Board, HK

  Rachel Andrews joined EMpower’s board in 2021. Rachel is a trusted advisor to both corporate and non-profit stakeholders, with a proven track record in designing, implementing and evaluating philanthropic investment strategies and addressing complex regional development needs.

• Stephen Chang

  Stephen Chang

  Board, HK

  Stephen Chang has been part of the EMpower board since 2012. Stephen is a Portfolio Manager at PIMCO where he has been working since 2018.
  

  
  

• Benjamin Falloon

  Benjamin Falloon

  Underwriter, Board, HK

  Benjamin Falloon rejoined as an EMpower Board Directors in 2021. Ben has 20 years of experience in financial services in Asia on both sell side and buy side roles spanning day to day operation, management, trading, investment, compliance and business strategy.
  

  
  

• Maddy Foo

  Maddy Foo

  Underwriter, Board, HK, Singapore

  Maddy Foo is the founding member of the EMpower entity in Hong Kong and Singapore. Maddy has been with EMpower since 2011. Maddy started her involvement with EMpower due to their vision for youth—to equip them with a tool, a skill, and the ability to be independent. Then they can take care of themselves and also give back to their communities.

• Ben Hall

  Ben Hall

  Board, HK

  Ben Hall has served on the Board of EMpower since 2013, and was the Chair and Co-Chair between 2015 and 2020.
  

  
  

• Aleem Jivraj

  Aleem Jivraj

  Underwriter, Board, HK, Singapore

  Aleem Jivraj joined EMpower in 2016 as Board Member and is now the Co-Chair. Aleem is Chief Operating Officer, Global Markets at Nomura. Aleem is also the Co-founder of Future Health, an angels' group focused on health-tech startups in Asia.

• Richard Johnston

  Richard Johnston

  Underwriter, Board, HK

  Richard Johnston has been a Director with EMpower since 2016. Richard set up Albourne Partners branch in Hong Kong in 2004 in order to expand Asian coverage for the leading UK-based independent hedge fund and private equity advisory firm.

• Nicholas Koh

  Nicholas Koh

  Underwriter, Board, HK

  Nicholas Koh has been a Board Director on EMpower’s board since 2019. Nicholas is active angel investor in innovative companies in a range of sectors and geographies – biotech, medtech, telehealth, HR SaaS, fintech, supply chain logistics, restaurant-tech.

• E.G. Morse

  E.G. Morse

  Underwriter, Board, HK, Singapore

  E.G. Morse joined EMpower’s board in 2017. E.G. has served as the Co-President of Goldman Sachs’ China unit and head of the global market division in the country. E.G. has been at Goldman Sachs since 2008.
  

  
  

• Avon Neo

  Avon Neo

  Board, HK, Singapore

  Avon Neo joined EMpower’s Hong Kong Board in 2022 and is our newest Director in the region. Avon is also a Managing Director at Nomura. Avon is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and is motivated by the impact young people can make in their communities, society, and the world at large when provided with a safe environment where they can thrive.
  

  
  

• Aasha Pai

  Aasha Pai

  Philanthropic Advisor

  Underwriter, Board, HK

  Aasha Pai joined EMpower’s Board of Hong Kong in 2012 and is EMpower’s current Co-Chair. Aasha is a freelance consultant in global health and strategy/organizational development. Aasha has over 20 years of experience working for non-profit organizations and social enterprises with a focus on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender equity.

  Philanthropic Advisor
• Cynthia Steele

  Cynthia Steele

  EMpower

  Board, HK, US

  Cynthia Steele, EMpower’s President and CEO, also serves on the Board of EMpower. Cynthia has been with EMpower since 2005.

  EMpower
• Vivien Teu

  Vivien Teu

  Board, HK

  Vivien Teu joined as an EMpower Board Director in 2021. Vivien is the Partner and Head of Asset Management & ESG at Dentons Hong Kong. Vivien is a strong believer of responsible capital and sustainable finance.

Singapore Committee

• Maddy Foo

  Maddy Foo

  Underwriter, Board, HK, Singapore

  Maddy Foo is the founding member of the EMpower entity in Hong Kong and Singapore. Maddy has been with EMpower since 2011. Maddy started her involvement with EMpower due to their vision for youth—to equip them with a tool, a skill, and the ability to be independent. Then they can take care of themselves and also give back to their communities.

• Sandeep Gupta

  Sandeep Gupta

  Broad Peak Investment Advisors

  Underwriter, HK, Singapore
  Broad Peak Investment Advisors
• Aleem Jivraj

  Aleem Jivraj

  Underwriter, Board, HK, Singapore

  Aleem Jivraj joined EMpower in 2016 as Board Member and is now the Co-Chair. Aleem is Chief Operating Officer, Global Markets at Nomura. Aleem is also the Co-founder of Future Health, an angels' group focused on health-tech startups in Asia.

• E.G. Morse

  E.G. Morse

  Underwriter, Board, HK, Singapore

  E.G. Morse joined EMpower’s board in 2017. E.G. has served as the Co-President of Goldman Sachs’ China unit and head of the global market division in the country. E.G. has been at Goldman Sachs since 2008.
  

  
  

• Avon Neo

  Avon Neo

  Board, HK, Singapore

  Avon Neo joined EMpower’s Hong Kong Board in 2022 and is our newest Director in the region. Avon is also a Managing Director at Nomura. Avon is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and is motivated by the impact young people can make in their communities, society, and the world at large when provided with a safe environment where they can thrive.
  

  
  

India Advisory Council

• Nisha Dhawan

  Nisha Dhawan

  EMpower

  Board, India
  EMpower
• Ravinder Kaur

  Ravinder Kaur

  Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

  Board, India
  Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
• Prarthana Kumar

  Prarthana Kumar

  Harvard Business Publishing

  Board, India
  Harvard Business Publishing