BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Martin Groak – Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director
Martin has more than 40 years of international business experience and qualified as a chartered accountant following his completion of a degree in Economics from the University of London. He is multi-lingual and has a strong background in finance and financial control, predominantly in renewable energy, logistics, natural resources exploration and physical trading. He has held numerous chief financial officers positions and is, or has been a director of six UK publicly listed companies, including a London Stock Exchange listed venture capital trust. As a consultant and interim manager, he obtained diverse sectorial experience, including video games development, secure telephony, “lean” app development and managing the finances of the UK’s second generation nuclear power station fleet. Martin is currently a non-executive director of Tanfield Group plc, an AIM quoted investment company focused on the engineering sector, a non-executive director of Eight Capital Partners plc, a corporate advisory group quoted on the Aquis Stock Exchange, and an adviser to an “assisted ageing” project.
Dominic White – Non Executive Director
Dominic who is the Company’s largest beneficial shareholder, has been appointed to the Board as a non-executive director. He was previously Chairman of the Company from its formation until November 2021. Dominic is a Member of the Institute of Financial Analysts and has over 25 years’ experience in the investment sector. He has held Board level investment positions at international institutions including Security Capital, European Realty, Henderson Global Investors and Cordea Savills Invest Management and is currently Chairman of Eight Capital Partners plc, an international tech-orientated financial services group listed on the AQSE Growth Market.
Dr. Niccolò Caderni – Independent Non-executive Director
Has also been appointed as an independent non-executive director. After an academic career in Astrophysics at the Universities of Cambridge, California and Chicago, Dr Caderni has since established a life-long practice in the financing and management of innovation and creativity. He has covered senior executive roles with Bankers Trust, Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers, the Bentinck Thyssen family office, and has served on the Board of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels. In 1999 he co-founded IPG, an incubator focusing on the delivery of digital content and was later elected Chairman of Webiz BV, the Private Equity fund of Italian utility giant ENEL. Currently, Dr Caderni holds a portfolio of advisory and non-executive roles, chiefly in digital transformation and in life science, is a member of the European Institute of Technology Culture and Creativity Supervisory Board, and is the Chairman of RAFT, a leading medical research charity and a Trustee of the Chelsea Academy Foundation.
Daniele Besnati – President of Bella Dispensa and Executive Director
Daniele brings considerable experience in marketing and communications as well as the supply chain and IT sectors. He started his career teaching information technology at LIUC University of Castellanza and the Universita del Sacro Cuore of Milan. Combining skills from his time in academia together with his knowledge of management, reporting systems, analysis and programming, he has developed an expertise in the start-up technology and marketing sectors. He was the founder and is now President of Bella Dispensa. He holds a degree in Business Economics from LIUS University of Castellanza.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Elena Schiavio – CFO *
Elena, an Italian chartered accountant, has more than 20 years of experience in financial administration and an extensive background of working within listed companies, having held multiple CFO positions. She also has considerable international tax, HR, corporate reorganisation and business restructuring experience, working in both Italy and London. She holds a degree in Economics from University Cattolica Sacro Cuore, and a Master’s degree from University LIUC, Castellanza.
* Title of director, but non-statutory.