John WRIGHT , President

Early career, in the UK, with ICL (programming, technical support, sales, major account management) and Rank Xerox Data Systems (UK Sales Manager). Started European operations of Systems Engineering Laboratories Inc., a Florida-based supplier of real-time computers, becoming Vice President, International. Vice President, Marketing and Sales of ECAD Inc.. Restructured sales and marketing for a successful IPO on NASDAQ, played key role in subsequent merger with SDA that created Cadence Design Inc., which became the largest and most successful company in software for electronic CAD.

Relocated to Monaco in 1995, became Director of JETCAM International Holdings Ltd, a machine tool software company, responsible for its IPO on the London Stock Exchange (AIM), making a UK acquisition and later taking the company private again and divesting the acquisition.

Co-founder and a non-executive director of innovative companies in manufacturing management software, ground-breaking technologies in the disposable glove sector, and electronic health record systems.

Founder of Capital Real Estate in Monaco, now affiliated with Jones Lang LaSalle, with occasional interests in Monaco real estate and property development on the Cote d’Azur and a property portfolio in London.

Olivier DAUMAN, Vice President

Olivier is in charge of Private Equity investments at CFM Monaco. He advises private clients and family offices on their Private Market allocations, including Private Equity, Private Debt and Private Equity Real Estate.

Before joining CFM Monaco in 2011, he spent 5 years at Paris based placement agent Global Private Equity. He raised capital for a number of Infrastructure and Private Equity funds and was in charge of Canadian and some European investors.

He holds a BA (Honors) from Sheffield Hallam University and an MSc. in Finance from Bordeaux Business School.

Pravin KHATAU, Secretary of the Board

Pravin Khatau is the Founder and CEO of Londinium Asset Management Ltd. an SEC registered Family Office and Investment Advisor which invests in private and listed equity opportunities globally.

Previously, Pravin's career was in Investment Banking. He spent 9 years at Goldman Sachs and Co. as an Executive Director based in Zurich and London where he built up Goldman's convertible bond distribution into Switzerland, Germany and Italy and pioneered the firm's entry into India. He then moved to Baring Securities where he performed a dual function as Global Head of Convertible Bond Sales as well as Relationship Banking India.

Pravin is presently a non executive director of 2iCapital, an India focused Private Equity Firm and Transwarrantly Finance, an Investment Bank based in Mumbai.

He holds an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Business/Economics from UCLA.

Ian SOSSO, Executive Board Member

Ian founded Monte Carlo Capital in 2009 as an angel investor to invest his own capital. Monte Carlo Capital now invests globally and looks for businesses with a clear edge, strong intellectual property or looking to disrupt an industry, and has built a portfolio of exceptional companies in sectors ranging from biotech and medical devices to artificial intelligence, robotics, fintech, robotics and consumer products.

Ian is regularly the lead investor and is involved in each step of the investment, from deal sourcing, to due diligence, deal structuring, and often joins the board or the advisory board.  Over the years Monte Carlo Capital attracted a group of sophisticated individuals who co-invest with Ian. Once invested, Monte Carlo Capital brings in a global network of co-investors and advisors who help portfolio companies accessing clients, partners and expertise globally.

Ian is also a managing partner of the Start Up Nursery fund, a fund dedicated to financing the creation of deep tech US university spin offs.

Before founding Monte Carlo Capital, Ian was, until 2009, the regional managing director and head of capital markets in Asia for Commerzbank where he was managing all capital markets activities in Asia, including equity derivatives, credit, precious metals, foreign exchange, debt capital markets, as well as the treasuries of HK, Singapore and Shanghai.

Ian started his career in 1993 and previously worked in Paris, London, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong with HSBC, UBS and JPMorgan, holding positions in trading, sales and financial engineering. Over the years, Ian has been a keynote speaker in numerous conferences in Monaco, throughout Europe, the US, Dubai, Russia, and throughout Asia. Recently, Ian was a speaker at ICT’s European Commission in Helsinki, and chairman of Capital Creation private equity conference in Monaco. In October 2019, Ian is was a keynote speaker in Dubai at GITEX, one of the world’s largest tech conferences.

Ian currently lectures venture capital and entrepreneurial finance to MBA and finance MSc students at the International University of Monaco

Ian joined the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) in 2016 and in 2017 won the best performing new member award of EBAN. Ian was elected to the board of EBAN in June 2018 and in June 2019 won the “best European early stage investor award, EBAN’s most prestigious award EBAN is the pan-European trade association for the early stage investor community, representing Europe’s 30,000 business angels, and gathers member organisations in 59 countries. He is also a board member of the Monaco Venture Capital Association.

Ian is a Monégasque and holds a MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE). Ian is a citizen of Monaco.

Shanka Jayasinha, Treasurer

Shanka is an investor and entrepreneur. He founded S&J Private Equity, a sector-agnostic investment firm that targets pre-IPO opportunities & special situations, most notably in sports with minority stakes across the NBA, NHL and Formula 1. He also is a partner of Northstar, a VC fund that invested in Project 44, N26, and a variety of growth opportunities.

Previously, he was the co-founder and chief executive of Edge AI Technologies, a fintech company that aimed to help UHNWIs and institutional investors improve decision-making regarding their public & private investments through AI tools.

Additionally, Shanka founded several companies in several sectors from TMT to healthcare and has authored several books including Welcome to Tomorrow: An introductory handbook to AI and its Impact on Society.

Shanka graduated from the University of Miami in a record-setting 2 years where he obtained his B.A. in Economics with minors in Psychology, Finance & Exercise Physiology and Nutrition while being a student-athlete.

Lauren Coles, Social Chair

Lauren Coles is an MBA student at the International University of Monaco. An entrepreneur, she is the founder of daisyyoga.com, a corporate yoga company in New York City that offers wellness events in schools, offices, and yachts.

In Spring 2019, the business plan for her new startup, LuxSeaTex, won the Fashion Award at the Mark Challenge, and the Monaco Impact Award at the Ocean Protection Challenge at the Oceanographic Museum. LuxSeaTex makes luxury fabric out of recycled plastics.

Marina Ianchauskaite, Head of Business Operations

With a background in law and over seven years of experience in working with international and Russian companies, I have proven my strong ability to navigate through extraordinary challenges. Licensed in bankruptcy, I have a broad foundation encompassing business development, audit, negotiations and real estate law. My experience extends from working as an in-house lawyer and self-employment Bankruptcy Commissioner to Property Investment Advisor.