Alexandre Pinto

Alexandre Pinto
Partner, Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados
Alexandre Simões Pinto is seasoned in all aspects of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions. A
partner since 2005, he graduated from the Universidade de Sao Paulo Law School and joined the Firm in
1996.
Mr. Pinto advises multinational companies on a wide range of corporate law and M&A transactions in the
agribusiness, automobile, food, telecommunications and textile industries.
Mr. Pinto is a member of the Sao Paulo chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association.
Álvaro Gonçalves
Partner, Stratus Group
Founding Partner of Stratus Group, Álvaro Gonçalves leads the firm’s Investment Committee and has extensive
experience in the Brazilian investment environment.
Formerly MD of Pactual Electra Capital Partners, a private equity fund jointly sponsored by Electra (UK) and
Banco Pactual (Brasil), Álvaro previously held C-level corporate officer positions in a number of Brazilian
companies where he led management change and implemented several acquisitions and divestitures cases.
Álvaro has also served on Boards of Directors in Brazilian and multinational companies. He currently chairs the
Board of Directors of Cinesystem S/A - a portfolio investment of the Stratus Capital Partners Fund (2013
vintage).
Álvaro Gonçalves chaired the Board of the Brazilian Private Equity Association from 2004 to 2006. In 2010 he
was appointed to the Board of LAVCA (Latin American Venture Capital Association). He is also a member of the
listing committee of BM&F BOVESPA – Brazil´s stock exchange.
Álvaro holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from FEI (São Paulo), a postgraduate degree from FGV (São Paulo)
and an MBA from IMD-International (Switzerland).
Carlos Eduardo Guillaume
MD and Co-Founder, Confrapar
MD and Co-Founder at Confrapar, Brazilian fund manager focused on growth capital, now raising its 3rd fund (first
closed). His career spans technology firms such as Microsoft and HP in Latin America, Asia and the United States.
In the late 90s, was responsible for the Corporate investments at Ericsson, screening tech companies in the
Brazilian market.
Carlos has a bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, an MBA
from the Getulio Vargas Foundation, and an MBA with a focus on Marketing from IBMEC.
Carlos N. Guimarães
Chairman & Partner, LAIG Investments
Carlos Guimarães, a Brazilian citizen, is the Chairman of LAIG Investments, an investment and advisory
company with a focus on private and public investments and strategic advisory, with offices in São Paulo,
Buenos Aires, New York and Madrid.
A graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Carlos was the Chairman and Co-Founder
of Invest Tur Brasil, the leading real estate company in the tourism segment in Brazil. Previously, Carlos was the
Private Sector Coordinator for the IADB – The Inter-American Development Bank, in Washington, where he was
responsible for developing and implementing the strategic direction for all private sector activities of the IADB
Group.
His previous positions include Managing Director at Citicorp/Citibank’s International Corporate Finance Division in the United States and Asia,
based in New York and Tokyo, respectively, as well as Managing Director and Head of Citicorp/Citibank’s capital markets activities in Bazil.
Carlos is a member of the Board of Directors of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Americas Society/Council of the Americas,
Co-Chair of Brown University’s Brazil Advisory Council and ex-Trustee of the Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Cesar Collier
Managing Director, Siguler Guff
Cesar Collier is a Managing Director of Siguler Guff and head of the Firm's São Paulo office. Mr. Collier,
who joined Siguler Guff in February 2011, is a senior member of the BRIC investment team. He brings a
valuable mix of private equity and operational experience to the Firm and plays an integral role in building
long-term relationships with fund managers, entrepreneurs, industry experts, local intermediaries and
government officials in Brazil and throughout Latin America.
Prior to joining Siguler Guff, Mr. Collier was a Senior Vice President at Standard Bank Private Equity where
he sourced and analyzed a number of investment opportunities in the retail, consumer goods and logistics
industries. Among other transactions at Standard Bank, he was heavily involved in the acquisition of CPQ
Brazil S.A., the leading chain of Brazilian coffee shops. Mr. Collier began his private equity career at Merrill
Lynch Global Private Equity (MLGPE) in 2007. Previously, Mr. Collier held senior management positions with Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Royal Ahold
and Bompreço, serving these major retailers in both financial and operational capacities. Notably, as Vice President of Wal-Mart Brazil, he was
responsible for five business units, five managing directors and more than 1,000 associates in 300 stores.
Mr. Collier graduated with honors as a Lieutenant of the Reserve of the Brazilian Army Infantry in 1993. He holds a law degree from
Universidade Catolica de Pernambuco (UNICAP) as well as an M.B.A. and a post graduate degree from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). He
was born and raised in Recife, Brazil, spent more than eight years in the United States and Europe, and now resides in São Paulo.
Christopher Meyn
Partner, Gávea Investment Funds Group
Christopher Meyn joined Gávea Investimentos in January 2006 and is the Partner responsible for the
day-to-day management of the Gávea Investment Funds (Private Equity) Group. Previously, Christopher
served as a Managing Director and Investment Committee member for Latinvest Asset Management and
its US-based parent, Globalvest Management Company, one of the largest independent asset managers
with a focus on value investing in Latin American equities. At Globalvest, Christopher was responsible for
the firms’ private equity and venture capital initiatives in Latin America. Prior to this, Christopher worked
as a Vice President for Dick Clark International Cable Ventures specializing in acquisition and
development of telecom licenses in Latin America, as the Vice President – Finance for The Marks Group,
Inc. a US-based telecommunications holding company, and as an investment banker in mergers &
acquisitions for Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc.
Christopher holds a B.A. in Economics with Honors from Stanford University (1990). He currently
participates on boards and committees of Multiterminais, Grupo Santillana, Azul Airlines, Odebrecht
Realizações, Hermes Pardini, Chilli Beans, Cell Site Solutions, The Worldfund and the American School of Rio de Janeiro.
Christopher P. Tehranian
Senior Vice President / Head of Infrastructure Research, Meketa
Mr. Tehranian joined Meketa Investment Group in 2007. A Senior Vice President of the firm, Mr. Tehranian
works in the Private Markets Group specializing in infrastructure investments. He focuses on performing
due diligence of infrastructure opportunities, maintaining and establishing new relationships, and reporting.
Mr. Tehranian sits on a variety of fund advisory boards on behalf of clients, and speaks at numerous
industry events.
Prior to joining the firm, he worked in capital budgeting, allocation, and financial management for the Gulf
Power Company, a subsidiary of the Southern Company. Mr. Tehranian was previously employed as a
portfolio analyst at Franklin Templeton Investments, and as an investment analyst at Segal Advisors.
He received a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College and a BS in Finance and International
Economics from the University of Florida.
Clovis Meurer
Partner, CRP Companhia de Participações
Vice President of ABVCAP and Partner and Senior Executive of CRP - Companhia de Participações, the oldest
Private Equity firm in Brazil, with more than 30 years of experience, focused on the south region of Brazil. At CRP
Clovis has led more than 100 deals in various sectors. He has also structured and fundraised more than 10
funds. He is one of the founders and now Vice President of ABVCAP. He was ABVCAP´s president between
2012-2014. He is a member of APIMEC and board member of CORECON in Rio Grande do Sul. Prior to CRP he
worked for seven years in Badesul. Clovis has a Bachelor´s degree in business administration with a focus on
private equity.
David Snow
Co-Founder & CEO, Privcap LLC
Prior to launching Privcap in September 2011, Snow was a financial journalist covering the alternative
investment market for 13 years. He began his career in 1998 at Thomson Reuters where he became
editor of Buyouts magazine. He later joined what was then a division of Guggenheim Partners to create
an online information network for accredited investors. Until November 2010, was was Editor in Chief of
PEI Media, a media company covering the alternative investment industry, with offices in London, New
York, Singapore and Hong Kong. Snow played a key role across PEI’s editorial products, events and
business strategies, including the launch of magazines serving the private equity, private real estate and infrastructure asset classes. He has a
Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Chinese Studies from the
University of California at San Diego. Snow grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Diego Baez
Executive Partner, Heartman House
Mr. Baez is the Executive Partner with Heartman House Consulting, a leading Brazilian consulting
boutique focused on Business Restructuring and Strategic Planning. He was formerly an executive at
Microsoft Corporation, with a success track record in Operations, Distribution Channels and International
Business Development for Americas and South East Asia Pacific. He started his career as a business
consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Mr. Baez has a specialization in retail by Kellogg Business School, and Channel Distribution by Fundacão
Getúlio Vargas. He holds a degree in Business Administration by Mackenzie University in Sao Paulo.
Duncan Littlejohn
Partner, StepStone
Duncan Littlejohn is a partner at StepStone where he is responsible for the Firm's investment and client
facing activities in Latin America.
StepStone invests in primary, secondary and co-investment
opportunities across the broad PE spectrum. He was previously Managing Director for Latin America at
Paul Capital (2007- 2013). Prior to that he was a Founding Partner of BPE Investimentos, a Brazil
focused, primary PE fund manager, a Partner at Brasilpar a São Paulo Based advisory boutique, and at
Pirelli Fintec, a financial services firm. From 1991-1995 was director and President and major shareholder
of AVM Auto-equipamentos, a Brazilian auto parts manufacturer. He began his career in NY with the S&
W Berisford (UK) group concentrating on coffee cocoa and sugar businesses. He spent 10 years in
Ecuador as CEO of Productos Ecuatorianos a coffee and cocoa exporter.
In Brazil since 1989, he has served on the boards various portfolio companies, ABVCAP the Brazilian VC
and PE association, and on the advisory board of multiple LA focused PE funds. He is a graduate of the
University of Pennsylvania (1976) where he majored in International Relations.
Eduardo Farhat
Managing Director, Darby Private Equity Brazil
Eduardo Farhat joined Darby in 2008 and is responsible for Darby’s infrastructure operations in Brazil. Prior
to joining Darby, Eduardo was a managing director at AG Angra, a private equity fund focused in
infrastructure investments for Brazil. In total he brings more than 15 years of investment and corporate
restructuring experience to Darby. Prior to joining AG Angra, Eduardo was the Managing Director at KPMG,
responsible for its restructuring services in Brazil. Before this role, Eduardo was a Director at Southern
Cross, a successful private equity fund focused in Latin America. Eduardo also spent two years as Planning
Director for Vicunha’s Group, focusing on turnarounds and divestments in its textile business. Eduardo
started his career at McKinsey, where he worked in several countries, mostly Brazil, Sweden, Spain and
Portugal. He participated in several high profile projects and also helped establish a pulp and paper
practice in Brazil. A Brazilian national, Eduardo attended the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica where
he earned an Undergraduate Degree in Mechanics Aeronautics Engineering (Sao Jose dos Campos). He
also holds an M.B.A. from INSEAD (Fontainebleau).
Fernando Ceschin Rieche
Manager at Private Equity Division, BNDES
Fernando Ceschin Rieche, Manager of the Department of Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds at
Private Equity Division, BNDES.
He has been working at the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), a state-owned company associated with
the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, and at BNDESPAR, an equity subsidiary
100% owned by BNDES, since 2001. He represented BNDESPAR in the Board of Directors of different
companies and has written articles on pension funds investments, venture capital and corporate venturing.
Previously, he has worked in different areas, including Planning, Risk Management, Environmental and
Export. Before joining BNDES, he has worked as Head of the Investment Department at Supplementary
Pension Plan Secretariat (SPC) at Ministry of Social Security and Assistance.
Fernando has a Master Degree in Economics from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and an Executive MBA from COPPEAD.
Flávio Mantesso F
Founding Partner, Wise Capital
Mr. Mantesso has 15 years of solid knowledge and experience in the Real Estate Industry, both in national
and multinational companies, like Colliers International, Tenda S/A and Eccelera. When in Eccelera, he was
the Director and the key man of the portfolio management of Standard Life Investments, one of the world's
leading property investors.
Mr. Mantesso is the Founding Partner of Wise Capital, an investment manager specialized in the real estate
asset class.
Mr. Mantesso holds a BSc. degree in Business Administration from FAAP, has done studies in Economics at
Rollins College in the US, and has a post-graduation degree in Real Estate Business from FAAP. He also
has done graduate work in Real Estate at the College of Estate Management, University of Reading – UK.
Karyn Koiffman
Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Karyn Koiffman is a partner in the New York office of Baker & McKenzie, and is a member of the Firm's
Corporate & Securities Practice Group and the Latin America Practice Group. She has extensive experience
with legal and business issues involving the US and Brazil, and is licensed to practice law in Brazil and in New
York. Ms. Koiffman focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, and private equity. She represents
clients doing business in Latin America and in the US, leveraging on her four years of practice as an M&A
lawyer in Brazil and over eight years of practice in New York. Her clients include large Fortune 500 companies
and financial institutions in cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, global expansions,
joint venture and alliance agreements, and other multijurisdictional commercial agreements. She also
represents private equity sponsors in all phases of their private equity investment cycle.
Lisa M. Schineller
Managing Director, Standard & Poor’s
Lisa M. Schineller is a Managing Director in the Sovereign Ratings department at Standard & Poor’s Ratings
Services. She is responsible for sovereign analysis in the Latin American group and is the primary analyst for
Brazil and other credits in the region, as well as secondary analyst for Mexico. She is also primary analyst for
the United States of America.
Lisa was an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs
from 2006 to 2009. She co-developed & cotaught a course entitled “Problems of Economic Growth in Latin
America” for master’s degree students. She continues to give guest lectures in a number of courses at the
School of International and Public Affairs and the Business School.
Before joining Standard & Poor’s in August 1999, Lisa worked in the International Finance Division at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
in Washington, DC for over three years as the French desk economist and world oil economist. She was also an economist at Exxon Company
International, Corporate Affairs, where she analyzed and projected economic and energy developments in Latin America (mainly Brazil) and
Europe. Upon completion of her Ph.D., she was an Assistant Professor at McGill University, Faculty of Management, from 1992 to 1994.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Spanish from Wellesley College and a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University.
Mark Ramsey
Head of Latin America, Macquarie Capital
Mark has been with Macquarie Group since 1997 and was closely involved in the development of the
infrastructure and specialised funds business, as Managing Director of the High Yield Infrastructure Debt
Trust and the Global Infrastructure Fund and in various other capacities. He was the Global Head of the
Investment Bank’s Private Placement Group. In 2008 he established the Macquarie Mexico City office and in
2009 was instrumental in raising the Macquarie Mexico Infrastructure Fund. He is responsible for Macquarie
Capital’s Latin American business and has in recent years been especially focused on principal investment
opportunities and advising Macquarie’s clients on opportunities in Mexico and South America.
Mark is currently Head of Latin America for Macquarie Capital. He holds Arts and Law degrees from the
Australian National University.
Raphael Eckmann
Senior Officer – Co-Investments and Business Development, Tarpon Investimentos
Raphael Eckmann joined Tarpon in 2007 and is currently a senior officer leading Tarpon`s co-investment and
business development initiatives out of Tarpon`s NY office. In 2012 he was involved with one of Tarpon`s
private equity investments in the fashion/retail space (Morena Rosa) in order to structure the firm`s sourcing
capabilities in Asia. Prior to joining Tarpon Raphael held senior positions at Grupo VR, Globosat Channels
and American Chamber of Commerce.
Raphael majored in Civil Engineering at Universidade Mackenzie and obtained his MBA from the University of
Pittsburgh.
Robert S. Linton
International Investor Relations for ABVCAP
Robert S. Linton is the founder of LCE Capital Advisory, a São Paulo-based boutique that provides
international sales / marketing and investor relations services to Brazilian private equity and hedge fund
managers. Robert is currently the coordinator of International Investor Relations for ABVCAP – the Brazilian
Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. He has worked in São Paulo since 1993 for a number of
investment banks, private equity funds and alternative asset managers such as Banco Sul América, Rio
Bravo, Vision Brazil, Crefisul and Deutsche Bank.
Robert has an International MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business and two BAs from
the University of Michigan.
Tony Volpon
Managing Director, Nomura
Tony Volpon, Managing Director, is Head of Emerging Markets Research, Americas at Nomura, the global
investment bank. Tony joined Nomura in September 2009 and is based in New York City. Before Nomura, he was
Chief Economist at CM Capital Markets in Sao Paulo for five years. Prior to CM Capital Markets, he worked for
Bank of America from 1999 through 2004, where he was a Senior Rates Trader covering Brazil and was based in
both London and Sao Paulo. Tony received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from McGill University and a
Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.