Gary Isbister
Founder & IC
Chartered Accountant and ex-BNP Paribas; led fund operations at Riparian and advised Barak Fund Management during a 4x AUM scale-up.
Paul Taberer
Founder & IC
30+ years in global commodities and operations; former COO of a multinational $800M turnover trading business and ex-executive at Alliance One International (NYSE).
Charles Taberer
Founder & IC
Former MD of Tabex Zimbabwe; held senior roles across listed and private firms in Southern Africa, including Blackstar Group (AIM/Alt-X).
Theeroshnee Govinda
Co-Head Operations
MBA; 20 years in supply chain, logistics, and trade finance. Ex-Micor Shipping and Blue Strata (now Investec Import Solutions), led an award-winning portfolio management team of 10.
Matt Lane
Portfolio Manager Africa & IC
CA(SA), CFA; joined in 2018. Leads Africa credit and portfolio management. On-the-ground execution experience across Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and South Africa. Recognized by Trade Finance Global and ITPP for trade structuring insight.
Krishanta Roskin
Co-Head Operations
11 years in logistics, trade finance, and supply chain. Rose through Blue Strata (now Investec Import Solutions) to Key Accounts Manager, overseeing financing and logistics for major South African corporates. Completing CIMA.
Miguel Richards
Portfolio Manager LATAM & IC
Accounting background; 20+ years in Latam agri-business and trade finance. Ex-Control Union (Brazil/Argentina) and BAF Capital advisor across $350m+ transactions. Joined Challenger in 2019, structuring deals across the region.
Ian Sykes
Deal Team Africa
CA(SA); joined in 2017. Entrepreneurial background with multiple business builds and exit. Deal origination, structuring, and execution across multiple commodities and geographies. Supports portfolio management and business development.
Maximo Tovagliari
Deal Team LatAm
Industrial Engineer; joined in 2019. Over 15 years of personal investing experience. Former financial analyst at Edenor and Mirvac (Australia). Deal origination background at BAF Capital Fund, advising on $130m+ in corporate finance and $30m in PE investments. At Challenger, structures deals across the LatAm region.
Jason Vermaak
Deal Originator
CA(SA); Bachelor of Accounting and PGDip Accounting. Articles at PKF and Moore; former PwC Deals team. Experience advising on M&A for listed and unlisted companies. At Challenger, structures and originates private credit investments across African markets, with a focus on innovative deal structures and long-term partnerships.
Phindile Ngcobo
Junior Operations
Diploma in Financial Services Operations (UJ). Experience in equities settlements at Computershare and client support at Unum Capital, including hedge fund interaction. Joined as a Finance Administrator in Operations; currently completing an Advanced Diploma in Financial Markets.
Kelly Oberholster
Junior Operations
15+ years’ experience in freight forwarding and trade finance. Senior roles at Blue Strata Trading (Investec Import Solutions), DB Schenker, and Röhlig-Grindrod, specialising in pricing, tenders, and international business development. Joined the team in 2024, delivering client-focused trade solutions.
Petia Skvorvikova O’Donoghue
Financial Manager
CA(SA); joined in 2022. Former Corporate Treasury at Export Trading Group, with experience structuring and negotiating loan facilities and lender reporting. Entrepreneurial background including founding Insta Fund. As Head of Finance at Challenger, oversees finance across the fund and group, and manages risk participations and related business development.
Chris Lello
IFRS 9 Consultant
CA(SA), CAIA; joined in 2015. Over 20 years’ experience in financial structuring, credit evaluation, data analytics, and business management. Based in Washington, D.C., contributes to Challenger’s growth while running an independent con sulting practice.
Fernando Torres
Credit Underwriting
Masters in Financial Assets. 15 years at Fitch Ratings Argentina, progressing from Analyst to Director of Sector Corporates. Former Senior Analyst and Risk Manager at BAF Capital, leading credit evaluation and risk management. Joined Challenger in 2023, focusing on financial analysis and corporate credit risk management.
Rochelle Poluta
CIO Assistant
BCom Hons (Business Finance); CFA Level I; LIBF-certified. 10+ years’ experience across investment banking, corporate treasury, and trade finance. Background at Export Trading Group and Rand Merchant Bank, with expertise in alternative lending, non-bank financial institutions, and cross-border trade solutions.
Kenneth Clark
IT Developer
Technologist and solutions architect with 20+ years’ experience. Founder of CodeShark; senior roles at DigiQuill, Psybergate, PropMaven, DStv Online, and Vox Telecom. Expertise in enterprise architecture, systems integration, and technical leadership; TOGAF 9–certified with multiple advanced software certifications. Leads the development and optimisation of CHART, Challengers proprietary loan management and collateral tracking platform.
Brandon Foo
IT Developer
Web developer with 19+ years’ experience across consultancies, start-ups, and enterprise environments. Specialist in user-centric, high-performance digital solutions. At Challenger, supports the development and optimisation of CHART, enhancing UX, workflows, and the firm’s global digital infrastructure.
Francesco Filia
Non-Exec Director (UK)
CEO of Fasanara Capital since 2011. Former Managing Director and EMEA Head of MidCaps & Principal Investors at Bank of America Merrill Lynch; earlier research roles at JP Morgan. Extensive experience in alternative investment strategies, portfolio management, and risk management. Graduate in Economics (Bocconi University); Erasmus Scholar (Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam).
Peter Sullivan
Non-exec Director (UK)
Senior executive and independent non-executive director with extensive global experience in banking, finance, and corporate governance. Former CEO roles at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong and Africa, with earlier senior leadership positions at Citibank and Shell. Current and past board appointments include Techtronic Industries, Circle Health/BMI Healthcare, Standard Bank Group, AXA Asia and China, JP Morgan India, and Cenkos Securities, with deep expertise in audit, risk, and capital management.
Bruno Hardy
Chairman (Mauritius)
Senior management professional with decades of experience in global business leadership, financial services, and corporate governance. He has held Managing Director roles across leading Mauritian and international firms, including Mauri Experta, MATCO, VFS International, and Citco, and previously served as Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius. An ICSA-qualified professional, Bruno brings deep expertise in governance, leadership, and strategic oversight, supported by strong communication skills and fluency in English, French, and Mauritian Creole.
Kowen Pareemamun
Board of Directors (Mauritius)
Operations Director with over a decade of experience in global financial services, compliance, and trust administration. Longstanding tenure at Mauri Experta and MATCO, with progressive roles across operations, corporate and trust management, and compliance. Holds a Master’s in Global Financial Services and a BA (Hons.) in Law and Management.