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As Acorn's Executive Chairman, Dr. D’vari is responsible for the leadership of the Board and ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of his role, including the governance of Acorn and the effective operation of its committees. In addition, Dr. D’vari is responsible for managing capital markets and asset management initiatives as well as regulatory and compliance matters
Dr. D’Vari has over 35 years of experience in finance, academics, and engineering. He is an expert in portfolio and risk management, fundamental and quantitative credit, structured finance, portfolio alpha strategies and innovative structured solutions using a Quandamental™ approach
Dr. D’vari founded NewOak, an independent financial services company, which provides strategic counsel and services around structured credit, complex asset valuation, enterprise risk, and regulatory compliance. He has led building of NewOak’s advisory services in credit, valuation, risk/asset management, litigation consulting, due diligence, financial technology and capital markets services. He is responsible for advising NewOak clients in matters throughout the structured products and fixed-income asset lifecycle. In this role, Dr. D’Vari leads the analyses concerning portfolio construction, structuring, securitization, portfolio management, valuation, credit and market risks and trading management
Prior to forming NewOak, Dr. D’Vari was an executive at BlackRock, Inc. in charge of Structured Finance business and served on Portfolio Strategy Group, Fixed Income Business, Alternative, and New Product Committees. Dr. D’Vari was instrumental in establishing BlackRock Mortgage Investors and development of PennyMAC, a mortgage company and played a key role in BlackRock’s Financial Market Advisory at the beginning of credit crisis
Prior to acquisition by BlackRock, Dr. D’Vari worked at State Street Research (SSRM) for 12 years culminating in him joining the executive team responsible for the fixed-income asset management business of SSRM. He led the day-to-day management of SSRM fundamental and quantitative bond research and heading the MBS/ABS/CMBS Portfolio Management and Trading sectors. He was a member of the firm’s Bond Policy Committee that managed $27 billion of fixed-income assets, and he established and led State Street’s collateralized debt obligation business and quantitative research team
Dr. D’Vari is advisor to Chair of PRMIA Education Committee and was previously the chairman. Dr. D’Vari serves on the Editorial Board of Journal of Structured Finance and has previously been on the Board of Boston Security Analyst Society and Advisory Board of American Securitization Forum
Dr. D’Vari has taught at UCLA, Brandeis University, and Boston University and has published in numerous publications. Dr. D’Vari holds B.S., M.S., Ph.D., and MBA from UCLA and is a CFA charter holder and has FINRA Series 24, 53, 7, and 63 licenses. Dr. D’Vari is Acorn Trade Finance LLC’s Executive Chairman and founder through NewOak Asset Management LLC
ron.dvari@acorntradefinance.com
Mr. Guillem has over 25 years of experience in international commercial lending. In his capacity as Chief Executive Officer he is responsible for overseeing Acorn’s strategic direction, reviewing all investment portfolios, monitoring performance, marketing efforts and human resources requirements
Prior to forming Acorn Trade Finance LLC, Mr. Guillem founded Latitude20 Capital Partners LLC in 2014 where he was the Chief Investment Officer. Lat20 is a specialty finance company focused on financing small and medium size exporters based in Emerging Markets. While at Lat20 Mr. Guillem oversaw the origination, structuring, funding, and ongoing monitoring of credit facilities for small and medium size companies based in Latin America
Prior to forming Lat20, Mr. Guillem was the head of the credit and underwriting department of the IIG Trade Finance LLC. He was responsible for performing risk analysis and formulating risk-mitigating financing structures and for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the asset manager’s credit, monitoring and reporting policies and procedures
Mr. Guillem’s extensive experience in the trade finance industry, credit analysis, legal documentation and team management coupled with his deep understanding of emerging markets and commodities, as well as credit enhancements such as trusts, collateral management, and credit insurance. During his career, Mr. Guillem has been part of in excess of us$4.9 billion of trade finance transactions
Prior to working at the IIG Trade Finance LLC, Mr. Guillem was a relationship manager for Banque Hervet (HSBC group) where he was providing financing solutions to companies based in France
Mr. Guillem holds a Master in Financial Engineering from the Côte d'Azur University (France) and is fluent in English, Spanish and French
Mr. Ahmed has over 20 years’ experience in the field of international trade, and he is responsible for overseeing all of Acorn’s investment activities including origination, execution, and portfolio management. He is also responsible for maintaining Acorn ’s underwriting, credit and reporting policies, processes and procedures
Prior to forming Acorn Trade Finance LLC, Mr. Ahmed founded Latitude20 Capital Partners LLC in 2014 and was the Senior Portfolio Manager. Lat20 is a specialty finance company focused on financing small and medium size exporters based in Emerging Markets. While at Lat20 Mr. Ahmed was responsible for originating, underwriting, and monitoring Lat20’s transactions in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru. He was also part of the Investment Committee approving all Lat20’s loans
Prior to forming Lat20, Mr. Ahmed was a director in the credit and underwriting team of the IIG Trade Finance LLC. During his over eight-year tenure with the trade finance asset manager he assisted in identifying, diligencing, negotiating, structuring and the ongoing monitoring of facilities for small and medium size exporters, predominantly based in Brazil and the U.S. The facilities utilized a wide range of structures in a diverse set of industries which included aviation, beef, nuts, coffee, fertilizer, grains, leather, metals, poultry, sugar and tobacco. During his career, Mr. Ahmed has been part of in excess of $870 million of trade finance transactions
Mr. Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and is fluent in English and Urdu
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