EMIF Group is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its core team as Affiliate Partners. This includes the addition of Andy Merris in UAE, Bertie Lombard in South Africa, and Jonathan Ávila in Colombia.
Andy Merris boasts over fifteen years of experience in development within emerging markets, primarily collaborating with government entities on projects involving airports and associated infrastructure, residential, hospitality, and commercial assets. Following the successful completion of the repositioning of a local Emirati real estate portfolio in early 2020, Andy embarked on establishing a tech-enabled renewable energy due diligence platform.
Bertie Lombard is a seasoned corporate and investment banker (CIB) with over thirty-five years of distinguished experience, specializing in leadership, business development, and fostering enduring client relationships. Led and managed successful debt transactions across Africa and the GCC region. His expertise lies in adeptly identifying and navigating organizational challenges amidst periods of change and uncertainty. He offers a wealth of experience in Islamic banking and possess a proven track record in deal origination and execution, encompassing corporate finance, debt structuring, and syndication. Bertie has held senior executive positions at Citi, Barclays (as CEO South Africa), Al Rajhi Capital (as MD-IB), Commercial Bank of Qatar (as AGM), and served as the head of Corporate Finance in a prominent local UAE bank.
Jonathan Ávila has served as an advisor in the Legislative Work Units of multiple Colombian Congressmen and has participated in the planning of diverse political campaigns. More recently, he has been working in the strengthening of relationships among the private and public sectors as the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Vali Consultores, a South American public affairs consultancy.
