Advisors
Mr. James Ferguson Paton - Senior Advisor
Mr. Paton, based in Malta, previously worked at First Reserve from 2011, when he opened the Hong Kong office, until 2018. Jamie has many decades of experience in deal origination and structuring to due diligence, execution, monitoring and business development. Prior to joining First Reserve, Jamie was a Senior Advisor at AEA Investors (Asia) and was previously the Head of Asia for Candover Investments plc, where he was responsible for establishing Candover's operations in Asia and managing investment and business development activities in the region. Prior to Candover, he was a Partner in 3i's Global Growth Capital business, where he was responsible for 3i's presence in North Asia and where he co-led 3i's Asia program. Mr. Paton holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering and is qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG.
Mr. Pravir Singh - Senior Advisor
Mr. Singh, based in London, was previously a Director at UBS Limited and then UBS Group AG in London where he provided many of UBS’s most substantial clients with advisory, capital and asset solutions since 2011. He commenced his career in investment banking, then led investments at a principal investor and private equity fund sponsor which had been a client on a $4 billion sell-side M&A transaction. Prior to his eight years with UBS, Pravir also worked with SUN Group, ABN Amro Corporate Finance and Morgan Stanley across New York, London and India, Pravir brings 18 years of investment management and corporate finance experience. Mr. Singh holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Berkeley where he majored in Business Administration and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, UK.
Mr. Vikram Bhatia - Senior Advisor
Mr. Bhatia, based in Dubai, serves as the CEO of the Alam Steel Group, one of the largest steel distribution and processing groups in the region. Under his leadership, Alam Steel has grown into one of the largest diversified steel processing and distribution firms in the Middle East selling 500,000 tons per annum. He has also been the driver of the group's expansion into the MENA region and South-East Asia. Prior to Alam, Mr. Bhatia worked as a Senior Associate with the Carson Group in New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, Economics & Entrepreneurship from Babson College and is currently pursuing the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.
Mr. Mathias Pontoppidan - Advisor
Mr. Pontoppidan, based in Denmark, previously worked as a Strategic Advisor for Jocata and then as an M&A Advisor for Maersk in South Asia before founding Pontoka, his own consulting business through which he currently advises companies within logistics, fintech and circular solutions on their Indian market strategy. He has rich experience in India with investment banks, hedge funds and cross-border M&A/PE advisory and brings 8 years of international experience. Mr Pontoppidan studied International Business from RMIT University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Marketing from the University of Greenwich.