Gabriele Rossi
Director
After graduating from Bocconi University, Gabriele worked as an auditor for PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC). He later moved to Vodafone (Italy) where he shaped the Planning and Economics department. Gabriele then worked as a financial analyst for Mediobanca, evaluating Italian big cap and managing the examination of several IPOs. He went on to manage the Italian equity research department at Exane BNP Paribas and, subsequently, Gabriele co-managed a long-short equity fund at Sequoia and Lemanik SA. Gabriele is a Director of AQA Capital Ltd.
Alberto Conca
Chief Investment Officer
Alberto has over 20 years of experience in portfolio management, having worked in the United States, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland. After graduating in Economics from the University of Pavia, Alberto moved to Connecticut (USA), where he worked on the development of non-linear models for the prediction of volatility. He later returned to Italy and worked for RAS, becoming the Head of Equity at Aletti Gestielle. Alberto then worked as a fund manager for Kairos Alternative Investments, and at Pioneer Alternative Investments, where he co-managed the Global Long Short Fund from Ireland. In 2008, he arranged and managed funds at Sequoia and later at Lemanik. Alberto is the Chief Investment Officer at AQA Capital Ltd.
Christian Manicaro
Director and Chief Executive Officer
Christian graduated in Economics from the University of Malta and started his career as a Merger and Acquisitions analyst at the Office of Competition. Later, he moved to the United Kingdom, reading an MSc at the University of York and acquiring the CFA Charterholder. After his studies, Christian joined APS Bank Limited in Malta as a fund manager. He then joined AQA Capital Ltd, setting up offices in Malta and networking connections throughout the country. He is also currently reading a PhD in Finance and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. Christian is a Director and the Chief Executive Officer at AQA Capital Ltd.
Elaine Bonnici
Head of Strategy and Business Development
After graduating with an Honours Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Malta, Elaine started her career at one of Malta’s leading banks, mainly focused on advances. She later joined the Authorisation Unit within the Malta Financial Services Authority, gaining particular experience and knowledge on the UCITS Directive, the AIFMD and MiFID. Elaine then continued her studies at the University of Malta, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance. Elaine is the Head of Strategy and Business Development at AQA Capital Ltd.
Joseph Falzon
Director
Professor Falzon holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Northwestern University, USA. He has served as a consultant to several leading organizations and financial institutions in Malta, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Services, Economic Policy Division, Malta Tourism Authority, and the Malta Council of Economic and Social Development (MCESD), to name a few. He has also served as a Board Member of the National Tourist Organization, Enemalta and Malta Statistics Authority and as a member of the investment committee of Integradvisory Ltd (July 2009 – March 2013). At present, Professor Falzon is a consultant to various firms and SICAVs. He is also currently the Head of the Department of Banking and Finance and the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy at the University of Malta. Professor Falzon was appointed as Director of AQA Capital Ltd in 2015.
Joseph Portelli
Director
Joseph Portelli graduated from Baruch College with a Bachelor’s degree and started his career in 1986 at the Bank of America International (New York). He then moved to Nomura Securities International with roles in trade support, foreign exchange and derivative trading in 1987. In 1996, he obtained a position at Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund Strategies as a foreign exchange sales/trader to further develop his skills, which led him to Millburn Ridgefield Corporation (New York) in 1998. Joseph returned to Malta in 2005 and was appointed financial advisor and head of stockbroking at Global Capital. In 2009, he joined Liongate Capital Management (Malta) where he took over the role of research manager/portfolio manager until 2012, when he moved to FMG Funds as a Chief Investment Officer. Joseph is currently an independent fund advisor. He acts Chairman at Malta Stock Exchange and is a visiting lecturer at the Malta Institute of Accounting and the University of Malta. Joseph was appointed as Director of AQA Capital Ltd in 2015.
Mario Fountain
Chief Operating Officer
Mario joined AQA Capital Ltd with over 15 years of experience in the Fund Services Industry with BOV Fund Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Bank of Valletta plc, where he was the Deputy Head of the Finance Department. Previously he obtained his Honours Degree in Banking & Finance from the University of Malta graduating in 2005. Mario is the Chief Operating Officer at AQA Capital Ltd.
Giacomo Severini
Business Implementation Manager
Giacomo obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business at the University of Siena in 2015. He then attended an English Master’s Degree course in Business Management at the University of Roma La Sapienza, where he graduated with full marks in 2017. During his studies, he interned as an accounting assistant before moving to Copenhagen, where he joined a multinational company and conducted research for the business development and analysis of the Italian market. Giacomo is a Business Implementation Manager at AQA Capital Ltd.
Davide Palmaghini
Investment Committee - Real Estate
After having obtained its Master Degree in Business Engineering from “Università Carlo Cattaneo” in 2005, Davide started his career in the Real Estate sector working with various entities in the field. He has also been a lecturer for several years at Polytechnic of Milan and he is a member of the RCIS since 2014 MRICS – Membership Number 1297298. Davide is an Investment Committee member at AQA Capital Ltd.
Antonella Ponte
Investment Committee - Real Estate and Private Equity
Antonella is a corporate finance professional with +20 years’ experience in the investment banking, corporate and private equity industries. After graduating in Business Administration from Bocconi University, in Milan, she started her career in the corporate finance team of PricewaterhouseCoopers and then spent 9 years at Deutsche Bank, later also acting as Vice President in the Continental Europe M&A team based in London. In 2009 she joined the Banchero Costa group of companies to lead debt and equity new initiatives in the shipping sector. More recently Antonella formed part of the investment team of Oxy Capital, as an investment advisor focused on turnaround opportunities. Antonella is an Investment Committee member at AQA Capital Ltd.
Simone Colombo
Portfolio Manager – AQA Colombo Extra Return Fund
Simone has over 15 years of experience in financial markets, first as a trader and then as a portfolio manager in various institutional realities. He matured experience in Banca Profilo, where he developed his derivatives sales skills before then moving to Banca Leonardo as a proprietary trader, with volatility and carry trading books on the main European markets. He then became responsible for the Treasury Department of the Bank and then private banker for the main large customers of the same. Simone joined AQA Capital Ltd in 2019, managing the Colombo Extra Return Fund.
Paolo Vicentini
Portfolio Manager – AQA Selective Opportunities Fund
Paolo has been involved in the asset management sector for more than 25 years. After studying Engineering at Padua University, he began his portfolio manager career at LBC Securities. In 1994, Paolo was responsible for overseeing the assets of private clients at BNL Eurosecurities Sim, and subsequently at BCV Sim and Fortis Private Banking until 2006. He then joined Edmond de Rotschild SGR in Milan as the Chief of Total Return Products for the branch, while simultaneously managing a Banca Generali branded SICAV. After co-managing a Zenit Multistrategy SICAV in 2015, Paolo brought his skills to AQA Capital at the end of 2016. Paolo is a Portfolio Manager at AQA Capital Ltd.
Chiara Sestan
Italian Branch Manager
After graduating in Finance from Bocconi University, Chiara joined the Equity and Derivatives desk at Euromobiliare Sim as a proprietary trader on the Italian Stock Index and single stock options. She later moved to Banca Profilo where she gained particular skills in sales to institutional investors, mainly UK based Hedge Funds. Chiara then worked at Equita Sim where she developed skills in special situation analysis such as long-short trading, right options and capital increase. Chiara is the Italian Branch Manager at AQA Capital Ltd.
Andrea Midolo
Business Implementation Manager
Andrea completed his Financial International Accounting Master Degree in Torino before joining Zest in Lugano. During his study path, he brilliantly passed a semester in Ottawa (Canada) and another one in Melbourne (Australia). He also completed several internship periods in different fields of the Financial Sector from Buenos Aires (in Techo), to Milano (in Deloitte, Financial Advisory and in Aksia, Private Equity), and New York (Prager Metis CPAs LLC). Andrea is a Business Implementation Manager at AQA Capital Ltd.
Rebecca Xuereb
Business Implementation Manager
After obtaining a BA in Business Management with Law and an MSc in Finance, Rebecca joined Malta’s largest banking group where she was appointed as Manager of Business Development and Corporate Services. Rebecca was mainly responsible for developing the business of the Group’s fund administration subsidiary and assisting fund managers and promoters from various jurisdictions in successfully structuring their retail and alternative fund vehicles and asset management operations.
Rebecca then joined AQA Capital as Business Implementation Manager in 2022 where she continues to assist promoters in structuring their fund vehicles across Europe.
Stephanie Borg Caruana
Risk Manager
Stephanie graduated with an Honours Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Malta in 2018. Whilst reading for this degree, she completed an internship within the Risk Management Department at Bank of Valletta. After graduating she moved to Dublin, reading for an MSc in Financial Risk Management at Trinity College Dublin where she was also a Financial Analyst for the Trinity Student Managed Fund. Stephanie is the Risk Manager at AQA Capital Ltd.
Giusi Criscione
Operations Officer
After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance from the University of Catania in 2014, she interned as an accounting assistant in one of the biggest accountancy offices in Catania. She later joined Framont & Partners Management in Malta, gaining particular experience and knowledge on the role of the back office and compliance for the private clients management branch. Giusi is an Operations Officer at AQA Capital Ltd..
Marija Cini
Compliance Officer
Marija obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance and Statistics and Operations Research from the University of Malta in 2016. She started her career working as a fund administrator with PraxisIFM Malta where she gained extensive knowledge in fund management. Marija then continued her studies at the University of Malta, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance. Marija is the Compliance Officer at AQA Capital Ltd.
Giovanni Pierucci
Trader
Giovanni obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Management from LUISS University in 2019 and he’s currently reading for a Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance. He completed a semester abroad studying Finance and Economics at Rennes School of Business as part of the Master’s Degree. Giovanni is a Trader at AQA Capital Ltd.
Julian Borg Gauci
Operational Manager
Julian joined AQA Capital Ltd with over 15 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry, with Blevins Franks Financial Management Ltd, STM Malta Pensions and recently with Scotstone Fund Managers Limited, a full Alternative Investment Fund Manager, where he was the Managing Director. Julian holds qualifications in Financial Advice and Investment Management. Julian is the Operations Manager at AQA Capital Ltd.
Agata Jasko
Head Of Finance And Valuation
Jan Langmajer
Research Analyst
Jan graduated in Economics from Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic in 2001. During the final stage of his studies, Jan started his career at an independent brokerage house Atlantik Financial Markets, where he later became Head of Equity Sales and Trading. He led a team of 10 people and received major credit for leading Atlantik Financial Markets to be the most profitable brokerage house in the Czech Republic. He left the company in 2011 and acted as a private investor with a focus on equity markets and renewable resources. Jan joined AQA Capital in October 2019 as a Research Analyst.
Franco Quartero
Promotore Finanziario
Franco has over 25 years of experience in network distribution management, asset management, insurance and mutual funds. After college, Franco has worked around the world as a financial planner for the Oil&Gas project in North Africa, the Middle East and Nord Sea, operating with established members of the financial community like G.E., Foster Wheeler and ENI. Meanwhile, Franco received his bachelor’s degree at SDA Bocconi where he spent time as a group manager at Mediolanum Bank and Unicredit. He has been a member of thr European Financial Advisor- EFPA- since 2005 after receiving yearly certification from them. Franco has also established many renewable solar and wind farms as a private equity investor in Italy and UK. Franco is a "Promotore Finanziario" at AQA Capital Ltd.
Alberto Tittoni
Operations Officer
Alberto obtained his master’s degree in Corporate Finance at the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome in 2021. In the same year he completed an internship at ItaliaCamp working as an impact officer. He wrote his bachelor’s degree thesis on Cryptocurrencies impact on Financial industry and his master’s degree thesis on Artificial Intelligence impact on the Investment Management Industry. Alberto is an Operations Officer at AQA Capital Ltd.
Francesca Gauci
Risk Officer
Francesca completed her Honours Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Malta in 2020, where she also studied Management as a second major. She started her career working in the clients’ relationship department at a major investment company and she is currently a candidate in the CFA Program. Francesca is a Risk Officer at AQA Capital Ltd.
Kevin D’Ugo
Senior Manager - Governance
After graduating his Bachelor’s degree in Economics & Management from the University of Malta in 2008, Kevin started his career in the iGaming industry with various roles in Risk Management and Sports betting Trading. In 2011, Kevin completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration and moved on to the public sector as a Procurement Manager with various entities. Kevin was then appointed as an Assistant Director for Administration in 2017 at the Department of Contracts. Kevin is the Senior Manager – Governance at AQA Capital Ltd.