Team

Samuel Oliveira

Samuel Oliveira has more than 30 years of experience in Corporate Finance. Prior to founding Northstone, he was a founding partner of VOGA – a local Investment Firm that was acquired by Banco Indusval & Partners. At VOGA, Samuel also successfully raised and managed two investment vehicles: Brazilian Real Estate Principals I (dedicated to investments in residential developments in Brazil) and FIP Caixa Ambiental (dedicated to investments in energy, water & waste companies). As an investment banker, he has worked for some of the biggest names in Latin American finance: UBS, Banco Pactual, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (as Head of its South American Technology Group) and Credit Suisse, where he played a key role in mergers & acquisitions and capital markets transactions in the telecom, media, technology, energy and infrastructure industries. He was a special advisor at the Ministry of Social Security during the administration of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, where he was involved with pension fund regulation. Currently, Samuel serves on the board of a credit organization and is involved with a Non-Governmental Organization that provides scholarships to high-performing low-income students at private secondary schools and in college. Samuel holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law from São Paulo University (USP), a Bachelor´s degree in Business and Management from Faculdade Getúlio Vargas (FGV) and Master's Degree in Economics and Administration from São Paulo University (USP). He has taken credit courses in Economics at Princeton University (New Jersey) and in Business Administration at Columbia University (New York).

Victor Kupfer

Kupfer has over 20 years of experience in the Financial and Real Estate industries. Before joining Northstone as a partner, he co-founded and was for 13 years managing partner of Maxcap Real Estate Investment Advisors, a leading Brazilian real estate investment management company. The company had an AUM in excess of US$ 500 mm. He also founded and acted as Board Member of Maxcasa/Maxhaus (a highly focused urban concept apartment developer), BN Corp (one of the only pure office developer in the country) and Habitat Capital Partners (an asset manager focused on real estate receivables). Prior to founding Maxcap, Mr. Kupfer was active in a number of positions at Wal-Mart Brasil, Banco de Investimentos Garantia and Fnac Brasil. Mr. Kupfer graduated in Business Administration from the Fundação Getúlio Vargas in 1994. He also attended several seminars, including Harvard Business School YPO Presidents’ Seminars. Mr. Kupfer is a member since 2008 of YPO – Young Presidents’ Organization, where he played several roles both in the Paulista Chapter and in the Area Brazil Board. He is also a member of the Deliberative Council of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE).

Jorge Felisberto

Executive with over 20 years of experience in the financial management industry, Mr. Felisberto is currently partner and cofounder at Firenze Securitizadora de Recebíveis and Independent Member at Tax Group Inteligência Tributária. Previously in his career, he has worked in different positions at Banco Bradesco (1988 -1990), Tupy S/A (1991 – 2008), Schulz S/A (2008 – 20013) and Grupo Cantu (2013 – 2018). He owns a certificate for the Course for Members of Board Directors from IBGC (2019) and also for PMD (Program for Management Development) from IESE Business School – University of Navarra (2017). Mr. Felisberto also owns a specialization Certificate in Finance from FGV-RJ (1998 – 2000) and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Universidade da Região de Joinville – UNIVILLE (1992 – 1996). ​

Alessandro Chicarelli

Alessandro F. Chicarelli has 20 years of experience in strategic planning and corporate finance transaction execution. Prior to Northstone, he was the CFO of the largest cattle feedlot operator in Latin America, Director of a rural landbank company and led the sourcing of equity investments for an Agribusiness holding operating with coffee, grains and cattle. Alessandro was a partner at VOGA, corporate finance boutique, and also worked as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (New York). Alessandro holds a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Industrial Engineering with a Minor in Management Information Systems from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) and a Master’s Degree in Finance from London Business School (London).

Cynthia Galia

Cynthia Galia has 20 years of experience in business management within the investment industry. Prior to co-founding Northstone, she worked in financial advisory, private banking and fund-raising. She worked in Gafisa, Banco Fibra and Banco Santander Brasil. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from The Mauá School of Administration, has a post-graduate degree in Investment Analysis from the Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets (Ibmec) and a MBA from the Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa (INSPER).

Matheus Araujo

Matheus Araujo has joined Northstone in 2018 as an analyst. Prior to that he worked at Morgan Stanley, Estáter and Finvest Capital Partners. He has worked in mergers & acquisitions and capital markets transactions in the chemical, education, agribusiness, finance and retail industries and equity research in the utilities, retail and education industries. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Escola Politécnica - USP.


Northstone advisory board

Hamilton Amadeo

Hamilton Amadeo has over 27 years of experience in Directors position, being 14 as CEO. Has a vast experience in sectors such as PPPs and infrastructure concessions especially within Highway and Sanitation. Hamilton has a successful track record within the creation and construction of companies from their very beginning. Among these, with wide recognition are: Ecovias dos Imigrantes, CIBE and Aegea. He developed from conception to the implementation of the financial recovery of Equipav Group beginning in 2010. Was awarded “Valued Executive” by the Valor Econômico Newspaper within the Sanitation Sector in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Was the CEO of EGEA from 07/2010 – 04/2020 and was the president of the Administration Council from 07/2012 – 02/2018. Hamilton was the Managing Director and President of CIBE Participações S.A. from 01/2006 – 06/2010, was the Engineering Director of Rodovias Colinas S.A. from 02/2004 – 12/2005, was the Managing Director of Ecovias dos Imigrantes from 05/1998 – 12/2003, having also worked at C.R. Almeida S.A. Engenharia e Construções from 08/1983 – 04/1998. Hamilton holds an Engineering degree from the Escola de Engenharia de Lins.

Luiz Brandão

Luiz Brandão has over 35 years of experience in Corporate Finance. He has had positions at the Chemical Bank in New York and at Siltron Technology Corporation in San Diego. Luiz was part of the advisory board at VOGA from 2010-2013, was Managing Partner at Magnor Financial Advisory in São Paulo, where he advised clients within a wide range of services from the expansion of industrial capacity of Greenfield and Brown field projetcts, M&A transactions and asset sales within mining, steel, oil & Gas, infrastructure and pulp and paper sectors. Luiz holds a bachelor degree in Economics and Mechanical Engineering from PUC-RJ, a postgraduate degree from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and from UC Berkley.

Lauro Fiuza

Shareholder of the Servtec Group since 2000, focusing on management of the group’s industrial assets. He was CEO of Servtec’s engineering and maintenance services unit. He graduated in civil engineering from Universidade de Fortaleza (Unifor), and was awarded an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

José Gustavo Costa de Souza

Mr. Souza is currently a board member at Tupy S.A. and at National Federation of Commerce (CNC). Previously, he has acted as a board member at CELESC S.A., from 2015 to 2017; at Enersul S.A., from 1997 to 2000; at Eletrobras S.A., from 1994 to 2000; as well as at Escelsa S.A., from 1994 to 2000. He was CEO of AUX Colômbia and CCX Carvão de Colômbia, from 2011 to 2013, and CEO of Metro Rio Concession from, 2005 to 2011. Mr. Souza also was president of the board at SuperVia, from 1998 to 2004, and Director at Banco BTG Pactual, from 1992 to 2003. Mr. Souza was the Executive Director of the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra (OSB) from 2001 to 2005. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Guanabara State University (UERJ).

João Carlos Zani

Executive with deep experience in all facets of financial services, Mr. Zani has served as a consultant and trusted advisor to C-suites and boards in companies ranging from start-ups to large corporations. He is currently CEO of JCZ Consultants.

Mr. Zani constructed a solid career at Banco Bradesco, one of the largest banking and financial services corporations in Brazil. With expertise in Investment Banking and Corporate Banking businesses, Mr. Zani has worked with Brazilian privatization (CVRD, CSN, CST), equity and fixed income markets. Most recently, from 2014-2017, Mr. Zani held senior leadership roles for all Bradesco organizations operating in the U.S., under Bradesco North America LLC. He was appointed President of Bradesco Securities U.S. and Managing Director of a Bradesco Branch ($17B assets).

Mr. Zani joined Banco Bradesco S.A. in Sao Paulo in 1989, moving through multiple promotions and becoming Managing Director in 2007. From 2007-2011, he held executive oversight for various functions of the bank, which included local and international fixed income capital markets, project finance, local distribution and equity coverage of corporate and middle tier bank clients (telecom, real estate and infrastructure). In 2011, was transferred to London and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Bradesco Securities UK Ltd.

Mr. Zani was very active in ANBIMA as Chairman of the Oversight Commission, leading the drafting of governing rules for the organization, Vice Chair of Regulations and Best Practices Committee, and serving on its Finance Committee. Mr. Zani held a Board Member Seat representing Bradesco with Brosol LTDA, Iochpe Maxion S.A. and Estruturadora Brasileira de Projetos S.A.-EBP, and an Affiliated Board Member Seat with Tupy S.A., Energias Renovaveis S.A.-ERSA, and VBC. He was also Vice-Chairman of The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Mr. Zani holds a Postgraduate Degree in Law of Economics and the Corporate Entity from Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV) and Bachelor of Science in Economics from Universidade Mackenzie, both in Brazil.

Marcelo Fonseca

Managing Partner and Member of the Board of Directors in Dal Ben Homecare & Senior Care and Business Development Director in Dr. Consulta. Mr. Fonseca has over 10 years of experience working as an Investment Banker leading fundraising and M&A transactions for Banco Garantia, Banco Bozano, Olímpia Partners and Credit Suisse, where he worked as Head of Private Placements Brazil between 2010 and 2013. During four years, he also acted as Senior Vice-President of Darby Overseas Investments, being responsible for the credit operations for Darby Latin America Mezzanine Fund. He has also worked at Gávea Investimentos, originating, executing and monitoring O&G operations, and at Angra Partners Private Equity, where he worked as Infrastructure Director, with over R$750mm assets under management. Mr. Fonseca holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, German and concentration in Political Science from Wabash College. He also holds a MBA in corporate finance from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Vicente Nogueira

Mr. Nogueira is a Founding Partner of Habitasec and Habitafácil – real estate backed securities (CRI) managing companies. He has over 23 years of experience in Investment Banking, as Head LatAm FIG (Financial Institutions Group) at Barclays, FIG Director at Rothschild, Vice President at FIG and Principal Investments (Mortgage Dep.) at Goldman Sachs, Banker of FIG in Pactual. Mr Nogueira originated and executed a great number of M&A transactions, issuance of debt securities, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and investment in credit portfolios. Mr. Nogueira is also a member of Financial Products Commission at Secovi/SP and, previously, ABECIP, besides being Founder Partner of Tiqueimóveis.com.br, which was sold in 2013. He also holds a MBA from Kellog / Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Poli /USP.

Be part of our team

Nortshtone seeks energetic and motivated individuals with a strong academic background. Candidates must have interpersonal and communication skills and be team players. They must be a good fit in an environment based upon mutual respect, support and acceptance.

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