Meet the team

E. Alex Özdemir is the Managing Partner of Yanne Capital, where he leads the firm’s global origination, strategic partnerships, and execution efforts across private placements, M&A, and structured finance mandates.

Known for his precision in cross-border dealmaking and his ability to align ambitious founders with institutional investors, Alex has advised companies across every single vertical, helping them secure growth capital and navigate complex financial processes.

Under his leadership, Yanne Capital has positioned itself as one of the most agile emerging investment banks, combining Wall Street discipline with a boutique approach to execution and client coverage.

Alex’s experience spans capital raising, valuation strategy, and investor syndication across the U.S., Europe, and India. He is recognized for his forward-thinking structuring style and his ability to build trusted relationships with both management teams and capital partners.

Charles Wade brings over two decades of experience in finance, specializing in impact investing, private credit, and structured credit. His career spans leadership roles at top-tier financial institutions including J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, and Lehman Brothers.

As a Managing Director for the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy estate, Charles led the liquidation of a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of distressed and illiquid assets part of the largest bankruptcy reorganization in U.S. history, with Lehman holding over US$600 billion in assets.

His institutional background covers portfolio management, structured finance, and fundamental credit analysis for leading private equity firms, hedge funds, insurance companies, and asset managers. At Yanne Capital, Charles advises on complex financing strategies and impact-driven mandates where capital structure discipline meets positive social and environmental outcomes.

Charles holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace) from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He has previously held FINRA Series 7, 63, 79, and SIE licenses.

Sahil Chanana brings over 21 years of experience across private equity, investment banking, and investment management, with a diverse track record spanning cross-border advisory, real estate, and media finance.

He has advised international corporations on capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and investment strategy across asset classes including equities, credit, and alternative investments. Sahil has led and structured transactions across high-yield and mezzanine debt, LBOs, co-investments, and fund-of-fund vehicles, working closely with top private equity firms and global institutional investors.

At Yanne Capital, Sahil advises on strategic initiatives, complex financings, and capital partnerships — helping clients achieve growth, liquidity, and long-term value creation with institutional precision.

Faris Saah brings over 25 years of experience in leveraged finance and private equity. He currently leads Quansoo Partners, a financial services advisory firm, and teaches Finance and Private Equity at Harvard University.

Previously, Faris served as Managing Director and Head of Credit Research at The Blackstone Group, where he led credit analysis and portfolio strategies across the firm’s alternative investment platforms. Prior to Blackstone, he spent a decade in distressed and high-yield credit investing with Mariner Group and Pequot Capital Management.

Earlier in his career, Faris worked in leveraged finance and private equity investment banking at Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan, where he executed complex financings and sponsor-backed transactions. His blend of institutional expertise and academic leadership brings Yanne Capital clients a rare perspective at the intersection of markets, strategy, and capital formation.

With over 20 years of experience across private equity, venture building, and strategic advisory, Peter Bakas brings both a founder’s mindset and investor’s precision to Yanne Capital.

Having successfully built and exited multiple ventures, Peter now focuses on helping growth-stage companies refine their positioning, structure capital effectively, and align strategy with long-term investor value.

His background combines operational execution, capital formation, and board-level advisory, making him a trusted partner for companies navigating complex growth and fundraising environments.

Brendan Harrick is a Vice President at Yanne Capital, where he advises growth-stage and mid-market companies on capital raising, M&A, and debt structuring across the firm's coverage universe.

Brendan works as a generalist, leading engagements from mandate through close rather than anchoring to a single vertical. His work spans institutional equity raises, sell-side processes, and structured debt, with a focus on positioning founder-led businesses for sophisticated capital. He is closely involved in the diligence and materials workstreams that shape how a company is presented to the market, and maintains relationships across Yanne's institutional investor network.

Mukul Mehta is a Senior Investor Relations Associate at Yanne Capital, where he focuses on investor outreach, fundraising strategy, and relationship management across global mandates.

With a background that bridges technology and finance, Mukul brings analytical depth and a data-driven approach to identifying and engaging institutional investors. He plays a key role in coordinating investor communications, preparing materials for capital raises, and supporting client execution processes.

Known for his precision, adaptability, and relentless work ethic, Mukul represents Yanne Capital’s next-generation approach to investor relations — combining strategic communication with operational excellence.

Pau Sablayan manages investor relations and client communications at Yanne Capital, serving as a key liaison between clients, investors, and the firm’s senior leadership across global mandates.

Based in Asia, Pau plays an integral role in coordinating cross-border transactions, managing client deliverables, and ensuring seamless communication between Yanne Capital’s regional partners and global investor network.

Known for her professionalism and precision, she ensures that every interaction reflects the firm’s institutional standards and commitment to execution excellence.

Philip is a seasoned investment banking professional with over 20 years of international experience in originating and executing transactions across multiple sectors.

He has held managing director positions at leading Wall Street and global advisory firms, including Jefferies, CIBC World Markets, PwC, and EY. His background spans private equity, leveraged finance, project finance, and natural resources, with a consistent focus on complex, cross-border transactions.

At Yanne Capital, Philip advises clients on capital raising, strategic transactions, and financial structuring bringing institutional rigor and deep sectoral insight to every mandate.

Matthew Smales is a Senior Vice President at Yanne Capital, where he leads origination and client coverage across the firm's capital raising, M&A, and debt advisory mandates.

Matthew works with founders, sponsors, and management teams at the point where a transaction is still a question rather than a process, assessing whether a business is ready for institutional capital, what the market will actually pay for it, and which route gets there. He owns client relationships from first conversation through mandate, and works closely with the execution and investor relations teams to ensure what is promised at engagement is what gets delivered at close. He covers the firm's mandates across sectors and geographies.

Tahawar brings institutional experience and disciplined execution to Yanne Capital’s investment banking practice. Prior to joining the firm, he held a role at the Royal Bank of England, where he was involved in financial analysis, credit evaluation, and policy-linked banking operations.

At Yanne Capital, Tahawar focuses on transaction execution, financial modeling, and client coordination across private placements, M&A, and strategic advisory mandates.

Known for his analytical rigor and cross-border perspective, he plays a key role in ensuring every mandate meets Yanne Capital’s institutional standards for precision and excellence.

Sam Lumb-Jones is a Vice President at Yanne Capital, working with growth-stage and mid-market companies on capital raising, M&A, and debt structuring.

Sam's work sits on the execution side of the firm's mandates, building the financial and diligence materials that carry a transaction, managing investor and counterparty dialogue through the process, and holding the detail together between signing and close. He works across sectors alongside Yanne's coverage team, engaging the firm's institutional investor network to match capital to situation rather than running a generic process. Clients tend to encounter him as the person closest to the day-to-day of their transaction.

As part of Yanne Capital’s investor relations team, Paul Moreno manages communication and coordination between clients, investors, and advisory teams across Asia and global markets.

He supports investor outreach, follow-ups, and client reporting, ensuring that all engagements reflect Yanne Capital’s institutional standards and attention to detail.

Paul contributes to the firm’s cross-border efficiency and responsiveness, playing a key role in maintaining trusted relationships and transparent communication throughout the deal process.

Michael Meade brings over two decades of experience in investment banking and corporate leadership to Yanne Capital. He has held senior roles at leading financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, Citi, and Deutsche Bank, where he focused on equity and debt financing, capital markets advisory, and strategic client coverage.

As Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and Citi, Michael led financing efforts for global corporates and financial sponsors across the U.S. and Europe. Earlier in his career, he served as Vice President at Deutsche Bank, where he specialized in leveraged finance and structured products.

Beyond banking, Michael has applied his strategic expertise to the private sector as Group CEO and Board Member of Sullivan’s Brewing Company, overseeing the firm’s international expansion and operational growth. His experience bridges institutional finance and entrepreneurial execution, aligning perfectly with Yanne Capital’s cross-border, results-driven mandate.

Stanley Hitchcock is a Vice President at Yanne Capital, bringing extensive experience from the lending side of the market with over $1 billion in executed debt transactions.

Prior to joining Yanne Capital, Stanley worked as a lender, where he was directly involved in originating, structuring, and executing senior, mezzanine, and structured debt financings across multiple industries. His background provides deep insight into credit underwriting, risk assessment, and lender decision-making processes.

At Yanne Capital, Stanley focuses on debt advisory, capital structuring, and execution across private credit, structured finance, and special situations — ensuring clients access capital on terms aligned with market realities and lender expectations.

Sean Hazelton is a Vice President at Yanne Capital, advising sponsors and operating companies on capital raising, M&A, and debt structuring, with particular depth in commercial real estate.

Sean brings a real estate background to Yanne's coverage, working across equity and debt mandates for property-backed and asset-intensive businesses. His experience spans sponsor-side capital formation, structured and senior debt, and the underwriting discipline that institutional capital demands, asset-level diligence, cash flow durability, and the questions LPs and credit committees ask before they commit. He applies that lens across the firm's broader mandates, where asset backing, collateral, and downside protection shape how a transaction is structured.

As Vice President at Yanne Capital, Jake Ballin supports the firm's capital advisory and transaction execution efforts across private placements and strategic mandates.

Prior to joining Yanne Capital, Jake worked in private investment environments and founder-level advisory roles, gaining hands-on experience in capital allocation, investor engagement, and financial strategy.

His background also includes experience in brokerage and venture investing, providing a well-rounded perspective on capital markets and investor dynamics. At Yanne Capital, Jake brings a structured, execution-focused approach to client advisory and transaction execution.

As an Investor Relations Associate at Yanne Capital, Jenny Lupas supports investor engagement and communications across the firm’s global advisory platform.

Her responsibilities include coordinating investor outreach, managing follow-ups, and assisting in the preparation of fundraising and transaction materials. She works closely with senior advisors and execution teams to ensure consistent, transparent communication throughout the deal process.

Jenny brings a structured, detail-oriented approach to investor relations, reinforcing Yanne Capital’s reputation for professionalism and execution excellence.

Hari S is an Investor Relations Associate at Yanne Capital, working within the firm's investor relations function.

Hari focuses on the capital side of Yanne's mandates: maintaining and extending the firm's institutional investor network, and matching mandates to the funds, family offices, and strategic capital most likely to transact. His work covers investor mapping and qualification ahead of a raise, direct engagement through outreach and first meetings, and the feedback loop that tells a client how the market is actually reading their story. He works across the firm's sector coverage and geographies, supporting mandates from initial positioning through investor close.