AA Advisors

Alexandra Daly

Founder & CEO

Middle East Distribution

Alexandra Daly founded AA Advisors in 2007 and has been raising capital in the alternatives industry for the last 19 years, helping raise billions of dollars for Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Estate and Venture Capital firms to date.

Prior to founding AA Advisors, Alexandra worked for the Man Group, where she cross-sold the firm’s multi-manager platforms, fund-of-funds businesses and investment services capabilities to European and UAE institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices. Previous to this, Alexandra worked at J.P. Morgan in their London office in the derivatives products group. She started her career in finance at Morgan Stanley as a member of the Fixed Income and Money Markets division.

Alexandra has a BA Honours in Law from City University of London.  

Paul Sullivan

Head of Distribution, UK

Paul Sullivan is an experienced fundraiser in the European Private Credit Markets. He was most recently a Director in Global Capital Markets at Funding Circle plc where he managed the private and public Funds businesses, built relationships with UK pension funds and insurance companies and raised capital for SME lending. Prior to this, he was a Partner and Head of Business Development at Pemberton Asset Management where he was instrumental in the raising of Pemberton Fund I of €1.2B (European Mid-Market Direct Lending). Over his 32 years in London, Paul has developed strong and longstanding investment relationships with most of the leading UK insurance companies and pension funds.

Paul has raised money for commingled private credit funds and several large separately managed accounts for European insurers and UK Pension Funds. He has been involved in fund structuring, currency hedging, balance sheet management, loan loss provisioning, dividend/distribution policy and all aspects of financial reporting to investors. Paul is also a Senior Advisor to Clearbrook Capital Partners LLP where he originates and advises on private equity transactions in European Financial Services. He started his career in finance at Chemical Bank in New York, as an Associate in Leveraged Finance with Jimmy Lee. Paul has a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan where he majored in International Finance and Trade Theory and an MBA from Northeastern University in Corporate Finance where he attended as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Paula crockett

EU & UK Distribution

Paula Crockett has 25+ years experience in the Credit and Structured Credit Markets, most recently at Vantage Capital where she jointly set up a desk to source and place assets between clients. Formerly she worked in the London office of UBS for over 20 years as part of the leading ABS/Structured Credit team covering UK and European clients.

european distribution

Alvaro Pernas

Iberia Distribution

Alvaro Pernas began his career at Banco Santander de Negocios in Madrid in 1987 where he ran the Fixed Income Sales desk. He moved to London in 1991 to join the Morgan Stanley Fixed Income Division where he set up and ran the Iberia & Greece Fixed Income sales team (Credit and rates) until 2006 when he left to set up Bretema Capital Advisors.

Alvaro joined Marine Capital, a shipping specialist FCA registered fund manager as a partner and Director in 2007 until his departure in 2021. He also held a position as Director in Eclipse Shipping until May 2023. He currently focuses on Transition Energy, Shipping and Real Estate advisory work at Bretema Capital. He holds a Law Degree and an Economics Degree from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas-ICADE.

Robert Ekblom

Nordics & Switzerland Distribution

Mr Ekblom has thirty years of experience in Sales and Marketing of Fixed Income Credit Products, Structured Solutions and Alternative Investments to Institutional Investors, Family Offices and Private Wealth Managers. He has been Head of the Nordic Region at Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers and RBS Global Markets. He has directly represented asset managers and worked with allocators in Alternative Investments since 2005, and has successfully seeded several new talented mangers, assisted established mangers in growing AUM, and has brought several new concepts and solutions to market. Mr Ekblom holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Dayton, an MBA in Finance from Stern School of Business at New York University, and Executive Education Diplomas from Harvard Business School. 

Robbie Ekblom

Nordics & Switzerland Distribution

With a deep commitment to sustainability and financial services, Robbie has led initiatives and advisory roles across multiple sectors.  As the Founder of the Suomen Metsä initiative, he has worked to protect Finland’s natural heritage, combat deforestation, and foster community-driven environmental action.

In 2020, Robbie launched Pendulum Advisors, a firm dedicated to guiding global asset managers in expanding into the Nordic market. At Ernst & Young (EY) Nordic, Robbie supported regulatory, compliance, and sustainability efforts.  Collaborating across multiple teams to assist fund managers in regulatory compliance and business development. At Haven Green, he represented impact-driven asset managers and served on the firm’s Sustainability Committee. 

At GRIT Governance, he drove expansion efforts for international fund managers, particularly from North America, into European markets.  Previously, he supported the Nordic, Scandinavian, and U.K. Asset Management teams at Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM).

Valentjin Thijssen

Netherlands Distribution

Valentijn has 31 years of experience working in financial services.

He began his career at a boutique advisory firm, consulting clients on Interest rate risk management, Treasury management and funding. At the turn of the century he consulted on asset based funding, securitisation and credit risk on behalf of a Big Four firm.

Valentijn then transferred to implementing, building up and managing a portfolio of mainly private debt securities before it became mainstream (and popular) at ABP and APG.  He then became a dedicated risk manager of the residential mortgage credit and SME lending desks at a.s.r. . Valentijn effectively used his skills analysing corporates and translated that in credit risk appetite as a bank risk manager.

Valentijn holds a degree in business economics (MBA equivalent) from Maastricht University.

charles daulon du laurens

France-European Distribution

Charles has over 22 years of experience across capital markets, capital formation and business development.He spent the first 9 years of his career in the capital markets divisions of major investment banks, including Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers and UBS, where he served as Director, overseeing the distribution of structured credit products and solutions to institutional investors in French-speaking Europe.

In 2012 Charles joined AXA IM - Real Assets (now AXA IM Alts), where he held various management roles in business development and capital raising functions before serving as Global Head of Client Capital Group and a member of the Executive Committee. In that role, his responsibilities included global capital raising, all of relationship management, the supervision of a 20-people team across Europe, the US and Asia, as well as oversight of €35bn of client assets.

ASIAN DISTRIBUTION

barry mcalinden

Asian Distribution

Barry is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in capital raising, business development, and equity research. Currently, at Conduit Group, specializing in capital raising and strategic business development. Previously, he served as Managing Director at CapConnect, where he facilitated investment opportunities and strengthened client relationships. His expertise in financial research and compliance was further demonstrated as Business Development Director at ERIC On-Line, a MiFID II-compliant platform designed for institutional research users.

Before that he was a Director at Panoptic Europe Limited advising on securities and corporate access, focusing on bottom-up analysis of Continental European companies. His career in equity sales includes key positions at Standard Chartered, CLSA,  Deutsche Bank, where he provided institutional clients with critical market insights and investment strategies. He began his career as an Audit Manager at Ernst & Young developing a strong foundation in financial analysis and risk assessment.

jaiyong kye

Asian Distribution

Previously, Jaiyong Kye has years of professional finance experience in strategic investment and capital raising. He is a Founder and Managing Partner at Kye& Investment, established in 2015. Before found Kye&, he was a pivotal figure at KDB Daewoo Securities, holding the position of Managing Director where he spearheaded overseas business development and strategic investment, particularly in the United States, liaising directly with CFOs and CIOs of top-tier global investment firms, including Starwood Capital, Greenhill, Moelis, Stifel and Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., among others.

With 30 years or rich experience in cross-border M&A and corporate finance, Jaiyong has a proven track record of advising financial institutions and corporations across the globe. His expertise was honed through significant roles at renowned firms including HSBC Investment Bank, Meritz Securities and Daewoo Securities. Jaiyong’s academic credentials include an MBA from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester and a B.A. in Economics from Dongguk University.

South america distribution

ANDREA BATTINI

Latin American Distribution

Andrea has over 25 years of experience in developing high-impact strategies for insurance companies and pensions funds in different Latin American countries. Andrea started his career at Assicurazioni Generali head office in Italy before spending 13 years in Mexico at the Joint Venture with Grupo Financiero Banorte, where he covered the role of director of actuarial functions and also the position of CEO of the annuity business, where he drove the company to lead the industry in market share.  He also covered the role of president of the Annuities Committee inside the Mexican Insurance association. Subsequently, he was CEO of Generali subsidiary in Ecuador.

Most recently, Andrea served in Chile as CEO of AFP PlanVital, one of the most dynamic and fast-growing Chilean pension funds, where he outperformed competitors both in AUM growth and investment return, reaching the first rank in the industry. Additionally, he served as senior advisor at McKinsey.

Andrea holds a BS in Statistics and Actuarial Sciences from the University of Triest in Italy and is a certified actuary by the Italian Society of Actuaries. He holds a graduate degree in Business Administration from IPADE Business School in Mexico as well as executive certificates from IMD Business School, London Business School and MIT.

aLessandro citterio

Latin American & Italian Distribution

Alessandro Citterio is an experienced investment professional with over 30 years across asset management, fund distribution, and capital markets in Europe and Latin America. He began his career in London with roles at Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Nomura, and Bankers Trust, before transitioning into hedge fund management and launching the London office of Unifortune Investment Management.

In 2007, Alessandro moved to Chile, where he founded the hedge fund arm of LarrainVial and later co-founded Lanin Partners, managing Latin American equity strategies. As CEO and Partner of Azimut Investments AGF, he led the firm’s institutional distribution across seven Latin American countries, engaging with over 200 institutional clients.

Alessandro holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and a cum laude degree from Bocconi University. He speaks six languages.

steve nelson

Founder

Steve Nelson founded The Nelson Group in 2020 with a vision to provide capital formation and consultation for emerging and niche asset managers. With nearly 20 years of experience, Steve’s network of relationships extends deeply into the institutional, family office, and RIA space, offering The Nelson Group a unique advantage in connecting with a diverse array of clients. Steve’s extensive connections within the ultra-high-net-worth (“UHNW”) sector and RIA space specifically enhance the firm’s ability to navigate these specialized domains.

Steve brings his investor relationships and knowledge of structuring vehicles for family office and HNW investors to help Shelter Rock navigate the environment on behalf of its clients. Previously, Steve served as Managing Director at Magnetar Capital, a leading alternative asset manager specializing in fixed-income energy, quantitative, and event-driven strategies. Steve also contributed to the investor relations team at Och-Ziff and gained valuable investment experience at SCS Financial and Alternative Investment Partners (AIP). 

Steve received his BA in Economics from Hamilton College, where he was a member of the varsity basketball team.

eric perrY

Managing Director

Eric Perry has over 25 years of experience, primarily focused on business development and investor relations. Eric brings his extensive network of investor relationships, which focuses on the UHNW, family office and institutional space, as well as capital formation expertise for drawdown and evergreen structures. Previously, Eric served as a Managing Director on Varde Partners’ business development team for eight years, where he played a pivotal role in building new client relationships across institutional and family office investors in North America, the Middle East, and Australia.

Eric also partnered with former Varde colleagues to launch Hyland Hill, an alternative credit investment firm, where he and his partners successfully raised their first institutional fund. Prior to Varde and Hyland Hill, Eric was a Senior Vice President in Business Development at Mesirow Financial and spent two years in Abu Dhabi as part of a joint venture with Mubadala, a United Arab Emirates investment company. Eric also spent time on the business development team at UBS. 

Eric received his BA in Geography and Economics from St. Cloud State University.

ROB SCHWAB

Managing Director

Rob Schwab brings over 15 years of experience spanning hedge funds, credit, and private investments. Over the course of his career, Rob has built an extensive network of relationships with institutional and UHNW investors.

Previously, Rob served as the head of IR & Marketing at Anchor Bolt Capital and was a member of the IR & Marketing team at Och-Ziff Capital Management. Rob also spent time at Hatteras Funds, Goldman Sachs, and Putnam Investments. 

Rob received his BA in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross and is a CAIA charterholder.

tandem capital- israeli distribution partner

AA Advisors works with Tandem Capital, an Israel-based investment house that offers global portfolio management, institutional services, alternative investments and assistance with opening managed accounts at leading international banks in jurisdictions such as Switzerland, the U.S. and Luxembourg. With decades of experience serving Israeli private-wealth and institutional clients, Tandem Capital has built deep expertise in customizing investment solutions, working with global asset managers and facilitating access to international markets.

aaron leitner

Deputy CEO and Founder

Aaron Leitner is a seasoned institutional investment professional with 39 years of experience spanning global markets, portfolio management, and institutional client services. He began his career on Wall Street in 1986 as a Financial Consultant with Shearson Lehman Brothers, later becoming a Portfolio Manager at Prudential Securities before returning to Israel in 1995. From 1995, he served as Global Portfolio Manager for Bank Hapoalim’s Provident Funds Group, overseeing assets for one of Israel’s premier investment institutions. He subsequently joined Robertson Stephens Evergreen as Head of Institutional Sales & Service and later moved to Lehman Brothers’ Israel Investment Management Services, where he worked with institutional, private banking, corporate, and venture capital clients. Prior to joining Tandem Capital in March 2005, Aaron served as Executive Vice President at Financial Guardian, Israel’s first multi-family office. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University. He was Series 7, 63, 65, and FSA licensed in the United States and the U.K. and is a licensed Investment Portfolio Manager with the Israel Securities Authority.

DANIEL WASSERMAN

Head of Institutional Services

Daniel Wasserman brings nearly 20 years of experience in global financial markets, with expertise spanning fixed income, trading-room research, and institutional investment management. He began his career in the Netherlands as a Financial Analyst for ING Bank before relocating to Israel, where he played a key role in establishing Bank Hapoalim’s Trading Room Research Department.Daniel later worked as a Fixed Income Sales Analyst for Excellence and Psagot, and subsequently joined Meitav as Fund Manager of its Global Fixed Income Funds before moving to Tandem Capital. He has lived in Israel since 2008 and has developed deep experience in investment research, portfolio construction, and institutional client engagement. Daniel holds a Master’s Degree in International Economics and Finance from the University of Amsterdam and is a licensed Investment Portfolio Manager with the Israel Securities Authority.

Joanna Koczuk

Head of Project Management

Joanna Koczuk is an Investor Relations and Fundraising professional with 8 years experience. She was most recently Head of Investor Relations at Ventuure, a market leading agency for high growth Series A & B companies, where she specialised in preparing investor reports, presentations, communications, and assisted in fundraising initiatives across the platform for venture fund clients, amongst other roles. Joanna was previously Head of Investor Relations and Fundraising at Picus Capital, an early stage technology investment firm, where she focused on the fundraise for Picus Venture Fund II. Prior to that, Joanna worked as a Distribution Business Manager and in Private Asset Sales for Schroders Capital in London where she was part of the private markets team and helped to quadruple the size of the platform in three years. She worked on implementing cross selling and new client acquisition strategies and contributed to strategic distribution acquisitions. Joanna holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a MBA degree from Imperial College Business School. 

HanaH Ovenstone

Investor Relations

Hanah is responsible for investor relations and runs project administration alongside interfacing with AA Advisors general partner clients.