LEADERSHIP
Danish Chotani
CEO
| Burj Financial represents the vision and determination of its founder, Danish, who brings with him decades of experience in the investment management space. Having headed investment management division for one of the region’s largest private endowments for over a decade, followed by another decade spent in senior management positions in private banking for one of Europe’s largest private banks, Danish brings a unique combination of product knowledge and connectivity with some of the region’s wealthiest offices. His experience within the financial industry spans across managing funds, raising of capital, structuring corporate finance and investment banking transactions both in the conventional and in the innovative space. His approach to FinTech and RegTech from a conventional perspective adds immense value to the practice of innovative financing, emerging technology assessment, including Blockchain-based product development and assistance with various regulators, with the sole objective of creating a safer investment environment for his clients and partners. Danish is an Economics and Journalism major, including a Level 3 – Investment Management Certificate and a Chartered Financial Analyst – Level 1, and is a member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danish-chotani-6877773/ |
Stephan Horvath
Partner – Fintech
| Stephan leads the Fintech Advisory and Technology Assessment for Burj Financial. The division provides strategic value-added solutions to startups and existing businesses. Stephan has over twenty years of international marketing and c-level experience in working for and collaborating with network agencies and consulting companies. With his international expertise with disrupting and emerging technology companies he brings excellent strategic and analytical skills for developing the REG-Tech vision and strategy for Burj. Stephan assures international know-how-transfer to drive disruptive businesses in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Stephan is adept in cross-cultural communication and combining strategy and innovative technology to drive business in these regions. With extensive tech industry insights and a strong track record, he is well-positioned to capture the growing economic opportunities presented by strong and resilient markets. His invaluable experience in international leadership roles for Interpublic (IPG) keeps him ahead of the market development and further drives innovation. He holds a Masters in Economics and Computer Science from the Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany. He is an International speaker and keynote presenter at marketing conferences in USA, Europe and Asia, including DMA, adtech, IECIA and ECI awards. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanhorvath/ |
Chad Gleason
Head – Institutional Real Estate Advisory
| Chad Gleason, CCIM, has been appointed as the head of the newly formed Real Estate Advisory and Real Estate Investment Consultancy division at Burj Financial. The primary objective is to provide value-added investment advice and crucial support for its many structures and investment options. Chad has gained corporate real estate, asset, and portfolio management experience with international investors, pension and insurance funds, US domestic syndication RegD funds, large family offices, and Fortune 500 companies and their associated real estate holdings while working within the corporate real estate environment. He has built global investment structures in Luxembourg that offer conventional and compliant investment capabilities. These structures have ratings under the European Securities and Markets Authorities (ESMA) with an institutional grade evaluation. With his unparalleled experience of over 18 years in the commercial real estate industry, Chad has a proven track record of delivering risk-adjusted returns that exceed traditional gateway markets and core product types. He also leverages scalable Blockchain technology and Islamic finance principles where required. Chad is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States of America and holds an active work visa in the UAE, making him the perfect candidate for this role. His consultancy services include corporate real estate, commercial real estate, portfolio strategies, optimization, and overall asset management, acquisition, and disposition strategies. He is also fluent in English and French, and his expertise and experience make him the ideal candidate to lead the division towards success. |
Mihaela (Ella) Cornelia Moldoveanu
Head of LegalTech
| Mihaela (Ella) heads the newly formed LegalTech division for Burj Financial. The division aims to disrupt and provide the much-desired tech and software assistance to law firms and related entities across the region. Ella is a Belgian national fluent in 6 languages, has been based in Dubai for seven years, and has previously worked in the CIS (Kazakhstan, Afghanistan), Europe and the US. In 2014, she was appointed at the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) Courts in Dubai to oversee the design and launch of the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry, including drafting its legal basis. After managing the registry for a year, Ella took over the role of Associate Director at the DIFC Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) – the umbrella body overseeing the DIFC Courts, Academy of Law, the Wills Registry and the Arbitration Institute. Thereafter, she took charge of the DRA advisory, leading the effort to set up a common-law English-language commercial court and an arbitration centre in the Astana International Financial Centre (Kazakhstan). Additionally, she was responsible for the ‘Courts of the Future’ Committee, for strategy development, business excellence and international partnerships. Between 2019 and 2020, Ella acted as Director for Jersey Finance and represented Jersey’s financial industry in the Gulf region. Ella’s versatility and combined advisory capabilities in LegalTech, judicial reform, strategy, economics and public policy, will add to Burj Fintech’s unparalleled holistic problem-solving proposition when assisting our growing client base. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihaela-ella-moldoveanu-4744836/ |
Dariusz Sliwinski
Director – Institutional Product Development
| Dariusz leads the Institutional Product Development initiative for Burj Financial, bringing 25 years of experience in managing investments in several geographies and under different regulatory regimes including Poland, UK and GCC countries. Dariusz started his career managing one of the National Investment Funds as part of mass privatization project for the Republic of Poland. Following that, he was managing an immensely successful Emerging Markets Equity product for a multi-billion dollar Scottish company, very well regarded for their Asia and Global Emerging Markets capabilities. After three years with a European Long Short Absolute Return Fund Dariusz moved to GCC region where he managed portfolio of Global and GCC public market investments, including selection of externally managed strategies (equity, fixed income and multi asset) for one of the GCC Sovereign Wealth Funds. Dariusz is focused, and believes in long-term fundamental investment approach to consistently generate a strong performance. Dariusz has launched a number of investment strategies and products including Long Only Equity funds, to Long Short Equity funds to innovative and unique Alternative products, including Life Settlements and Real Estate. Dariusz is equipped with a Master’s in Business Administration from SDA Bocconi, Postgraduate diploma in European Studies and Master’s in Electronic Engineering.He has been IMRO/FSA/FCA approved person since May 1998. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusz-sliwinski-ab89b94/ |
Nader Antione Nader
Director – Investment Advsiory
| Nader heads the Investment Advisory for Burj Financial. He started his career in 1988 in Sydney, initially working on the trading floor of the Australian Stock exchange and thereafter as a stock analyst / Relationship Manager. Specialised in Technical and Fundamental Analysis he was the Asia Head of US treasury futures for Thomson Financial Services. His passion for trading led him to Hambros Bank as a proprietary futures bond trader. Nader has the technical, fundamental and analytical skill to trade all major currencies, stock indices and single name stocks and bonds. Nader currently manages portfolios of private clients based on all financial asset classes, in line with their risk profile and investment parameters. He is a Fellow of the Securities Institute of Australia and holds a Postgraduate diploma in Applied Finance and a M.Sc. and B.Sc. (Hon) in Electrical Engineering from University of London |
Nashwa Zakaria
Director – Client Relations
| Nashwa is in charge of the Relationship Management and brand management team at Burj. Nashwa has over 15 years of diversified experience in marketing, digital, branding, communications, public relations, and business development across Europe, Africa, USA and Middle East. Nashwa served as, VP Marketing and Corporate Communications, Director and Head, for a number of high profile Global, Government and Semi Government organizations across the UAE. In these roles she was privileged to have worked closely with the C-suits, Board members and Senior Management teams of these entities as well Governors and Director General’s. She has a strong leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation skills applied on global marketing, communication and PR, strategies and innovation development across the; Financial Services, Training & Education, Automotive, Real Estate & Construction, Media & Entertainment industries. A dynamic speaker, trainer and presenter, she has taken an active role in training and has worked closely with over 100 young and talented Emirati leaders that are all part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG). https://www.linkedin.com/in/nashwa-zakaria-9688045/ |
Azzal Chotani
Director – Diversified Investments
| Azzal is an entrepreneur since the onset of her career; she has been heading the diversified investment portfolio for Burj Financial since its inception. Her foray into jewelry designing has led her to establish her own successful brand ‘Azzallure’, under a corporate umbrella. Her investment skills have helped Burj Financial to further diversify into alternative sectors such as art, cigars, facilities management and real estate. Azzal has a Masters in Economics, and is a qualified special needs instructor. https://www.linkedin.com/in/azzal-chotani-27422244/ |
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Client Testimonials
“We developed a great working partnership with Burj Financial, their dedication and attention to detail is what makes them our long term partners. Their advice and foresight has helped us our business and manage our investors expectations, Thank you!”
The Solitaire Fund
"Danish and his team are innovative and efficient! They know how to add value and be there when its most important. An integral component of our team and success!”
SAS Ventures
"The Burj team manages our structures, our investors and lets us focus on what we need to do!
Thats something we always wanted, to concentrate on our performance as Asset Managers!"
HG Asset Management
"We never realized that structuring funds, was so uncomplicated and cost-efficient! Thank you for hand holding us through the process and helping us achieve momentum."
AZone Ventures
"As an VC investor, in multiple tech opportunities, I am really impressed with the Monitoring and Reporting efficiency and access to information that Danish and his team provide."