We endeavour to protect human dignity through social inclusion and economic advancement
Process of origination
- BACKBONE enters into partnership agreements with local financial partners to originate and screen SMEs which meet its own qualifying criteria. Agreements will include operational processes.
- BACKBONE together with its partners use the best partices in credit assessment to built a dealflow of first quality.
- BACKBONE screens ex-ante the SMEs through an SDG-filter. Indicators are implemented ex-post at SME-level to measure the impact of its mission (protecting human dignity).
Eligible Sectors
BACKBONE contributes to the provision of essential services to people in need in emerging and frontier markets, with a focus on 4 specific sectors:
- Sustainable agri-business
- Education
- Medical care
- Community services & social inclusion
Community & Social Inclusion includes SMEs manufacturing, processing or distributing products and services for low-income local populations at an affordable price such as : access to food, housing, water and renewable energy, mobility …).
Executive team
Xavier HEUDE
Co-founding Partner
Xavier HEUDE
Co-founding PartnerXavier started his career as a Corporate Relationship Manager with Crédit Lyonnais (LCL), France, where he was in charge of developing a portfolio of SME clients. During this time, he has developed considerable expertise in deal origination, credit assessment and credit case presentation across a variety of business sectors. Xavier then spent 13 years working as a Project Manager, conducting operational efficiency programmes within industrial groups and specialized financial institutions. In particular, he has been involved in the set up and monitoring of development-aid projects in the education and microfinance sectors (using Logframe). Since 2012, Xavier has been teaching Sustainable Finance within several Finance Masters programmes.
Michel VANDEVOIR
Co-founding Partner
Michel VANDEVOIR
Co-founding PartnerWith a background in economics, Michel has over 20 years of experience in Banking and in the Fund industry where he held various management functions in client relationships and custody operations. While working in the sector for Quintet Luxembourg (formerly KBL European Private Bankers), Michel volunteered to develop a microfinance project in Vietnam. This has broadened his perspective on the potential of Finance at a micro-SME level in an emerging market context. This experience truly sparked his interest in applying his finance & risk management skills in the context of an Emerging Markets Private Debt Fund. Since 2016, Michel has been instrumental in raising the initial +USD10m seed funds from credit investors, mainly from High Net Worth Individuals and Family Offices.
Marc ELSHOUT
Partner
Marc ELSHOUT
PartnerMarc has over 25 years of experience in banking with many responsibilities in different locations (London, Brussels, Luxembourg) and in different fields of expertise: International corporate credits, international relationship management (Far-East), market risk, operational risk, collateral management, custody network management. Marc has always had a big interest in the means of financial leverage supporting private initiative in emerging countries, as these are the main factor for sustained economic growth in a social responsible manner.
Francis RANAIVOSON
Partner
Francis RANAIVOSON
PartnerFrancis has over 30 years of experience in business management and corporate finance, having acquired extensive knowledge in financial analysis, performance and risk monitoring within mid-sized firms. He started his career in financial controlling and was CFO at various corporate private companies including MATIF S.A, France’s first futures’ market platform. He has been active in the bank-insurance sector. In particular, he headed the Funding team of Atradius France's factoring and bonding division, and later headed Fortis Commercial Finance’s subsidiary in Luxembourg. Keeping strong ties on the African continent, Francis has recently worked for FTHM Consulting in Madagascar, as Manager in charge of M&A & Finance for targets based in the country and on the wider African continent.
Hervé SOLIGNAC LECOMTE
Partner
Hervé SOLIGNAC LECOMTE
PartnerHe has a wide-reaching institutional & corporate banking background, having worked in various corporate and public sector banking roles within the HSBC Group. When in charge of the Trade & Supply Chain Finance activity for HSBC France, he contributed to the creation and successful growth of a private debt fund for exporting SMEs. He has developed his knowledge of the developing world, notably of Sub-Saharan Africa, when steering Structured Commodity Finance at HSBC France, or when driving HSBC Group's public sector banking in Maghreb, seeking credit investors to buy public/private debt instruments. Recently, Hervé has been acting as financial advisor, notably in the ESG space. He is currently advising the European Commission on sustainability proofing for the future InvestEU programme and also in connection with the Blue Economy.
LOCAL TEAM
Joey A. Bermudez
Philippines
Joey A. Bermudez
PhilippinesHe was a banker for over 30 years and did a lot of work in microfinance, small enterprise finance, migrant workers’ finance, rural finance, and development finance in all of the banks that he worked for. He had previously served as CEO of two commercial banks and was president of the Management Association of the Philippines, the country’s largest organization of CEOs and business owners. At various times in the past, he did consulting work for various rural financial institutions, NGOs and multilateral organizations including the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Thierry Owono
Cameroon/Ivory-Coast
Thierry Owono
Cameroon/Ivory-CoastHe has over 15 years of experience in Banking and Finance with a proven track-record in Emerging Markets financing, structured lending, and complex rates products through Investment Banking, with a focus on social impact. Thierry has worked with investment banks, African governments, multilateral organizations, and private actors on national and international level. His skills include deals origination, Forex and commodities and credit Trading, investment analysis (debt and equity), financial and business advisory, negotiation of financing, as well as training and development of teams in Europe and Africa multi-cultural environment.
Marcelo Ortiz
Mexico
Marcelo Ortiz
MexicoWith an enriching experience both in France and Mexico, Marcelo has held different key positions in Real Estate & Construction, Banking and Digital. He has a proven track-record in Market Research, Project & Operations Planning, Cross-Functional Management as well as Web Digital Marketing Strategy. Marcelo mentors university students where he designs and follows-up Sustainability projects regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals both on Social & Environmental Impact. As an advisor for Mexico, Marcelo wishes to become a big contributor in ESG investments thought extra-financial research and analytics, reporting content and design, fund growth strategy and also as a team player!
Javier Eduardo Leon Reyes
Peru/Ecuador
Javier Eduardo Leon Reyes
Peru/EcuadorHe has over 15 years of experience in Banking and Finance with a proven track-record in SME-financing and investments (through debt and venture capital) in social projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on microfinance and sustainable agriculture. Javier has worked with governmental, multilateral organizations and private actors on national and international level. Javier’s skills include corporate finance, fund management, investment analysis (debt and equity), financial and business advisory, negotiation of financing, as well as training and development of teams in a multi-cultural environment. Javier is in charge of scrutinizing the Peruvian SME-market and its trends and he provides Backbone with his expertise in the lending business.
ADVISORS
Annemarie ARENS
Independent business advisor
Annemarie ARENS
Independent business advisorAnnemarie is financial services professional with a broad spectrum of international experience. She is a non-executive director, chairman and consultant to financial services funds and companies. Since 2016, Annemarie has acted as director of Luxembourg management companies and UCITS companies. Annemarie took high responsibilities in recognized institutions, like the position of General Manager at LuxFLAG or the position of European Head of Sales and Relationship as well as European Head of Client Service Management at RBC Investor Services Bank. She was also a member of RBC Investor Services Bank Executive Committee in Luxembourg. Annemarie started her professional career in the Financial Industry in 1985.
Antoine BORDIER
Independent business advisor
Antoine BORDIER
Independent business advisorAntoine started his career as a journalist and moved to audit and consulting services to SMEs and larger companies for various types of missions including strategic communication, financial control and transition management. Over the last 10 years, he has been more specifically involved in accompanying entrepreneurs to develop their business-plans and to prepare fund-raising campaigns for start-ups in the green-tech and ICT sectors.
Luca BRUNI
Independent business advisor
Luca BRUNI
Independent business advisorLuca has more than 20-year experience in the financial industry, with a focus on asset management and more particularly investment funds. Since 2007 he has been working in the consulting area, with 7.5 years initially spent in a big4. As a natural evolution of his career, in 2018 he started working on various projects around impact investing and, more generally, sustainable finance to the widest extent. He is for instance involved in the organisation of corporate and institutional events where he plays the role of master of ceremony or moderator, depending the scope and is currently working on the realization of a White Paper entirely dedicated to sustainable finance and impact investing.
Philippe CUELENAERE
Independent business advisor
Philippe CUELENAERE
Independent business advisorPhilippe is a former banker specialized in asset management. He has a Master's degree in Applied Economic Sciences and a post-graduate in Tax Management (ULB – Solvay business school). Trustworthy, loyal advisor and pragmatic, he has been active for more than 25 years and he has brought all his expertise in the field of investment funds to the table. Acting as board member for financial and non-financial entities, he leads private equity projects in renewable energy sector and real estate sector with a specific focus on impact financing.
Elise GROULX
Human Rights Lawyer
Elise GROULX
Human Rights LawyerShe is an international legal practitioner in the field of international human rights law. She advises firms on human rights due diligence and other aspects of the nexus between private business and international law. She is an Associate Tenant at Doughty Street Chambers in London and admitted to practice law at the Paris Bar. Elise has been ranked for the last three years amongst the top lawyers, worldwide, by the Chambers & Partners Global Guide which identifies leading practitioners in the field of Business and Human Rights law. Elise convenes the Advisory Board of the Business and Human Rights project of the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights and is Vice-chair of the Business and Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA/London).
HIRH Archduke Imre de HABSBOURG-LORRAINE
CEO of a patrimonial advising company & Founder of an ethical consulting company
HIRH Archduke Imre de HABSBOURG-LORRAINE
CEO of a patrimonial advising company & Founder of an ethical consulting companyAfter completing several political and economic work experiences in Brussels and Washington D.C., Archduke Imre spent three years working in auditing and consulting with Ernst & Young in Luxembourg. He is now a partner at MultiPlus finance in Geneva, Switzerland - a consulting company specializing in patrimonial advice to families, religious congregations, foundations and dioceses. In 2019, he founded with his father Aliter Invest, a company specializing in identifying and analyzing ethical investment funds. He is also the vice-president of the « Accueil Louis et Zélie », an organization present in several countries in Europe, helping people with social and family difficulties.
Mohsen HASSEN
Former Minister of Trade in Tunisia
Mohsen HASSEN
Former Minister of TradeMohsen holds a Master of Business Administration from the University Panthéon-Sorbonne, France. His professional career began in the National Agricultural Bank (BNA) from 1996 until 2001. Then he held executive and non-executive positions in various companies in the food distribution, real-estate brokerage and consulting services. He also has taught in Tunisian universities and has worked as an expert and consultant to several international organizations. He was Ministry of Trade in 2016-2017. Early 2019, he co-founded and became the chairman of the civil society organisation “Association for the Promotion of Investment and Development of Grand-Souassi (APIDGS)”, in the North-East of Tunisia.
John LI
Former Managing Partner of a “Big-Four” audit & advisory company
John LI
Former Managing Partner of a “Big-Four” audit & advisory companyHe is a Partner of The Directors’ Office, the leading practice of independent Directors in Luxembourg since November 2011. John trained and qualified as a Chartered accountant in the UK. He moved to Luxembourg in 1987. During the last 30 years John Li worked essentially in the Financial sector auditing and advising clients such as Banks, Investment Funds, Insurance companies, etc. Clients also were from Europe, US, Japan and Asia offering John an extensive experience in dealing with international companies. John was a Partner at KPMG Luxembourg for more than 20 years during which he was Managing Partner for 8 years (2000-2008) before taking on the role Of Chairman of the Supervisory Board for 3 years (2008-2011). He was also a member of the Leadership team of the Global Investment Management Practice in KPMG.
Eric Van de KERHOVE
CFO of an international NGO
Eric Van de KERHOVE
CFO of an international NGOTreasurer of an international NGO He is active as an independent director for funds or professionals of the financial sector. He also delivers advisory with financial matters for these professionals in Luxembourg. After he passed his MBA at NEOMA Business School (France), he started his career in Paris and Montreal where he worked for 6 years. He joined Deloitte Luxembourg in 1988 and become a Senior Partner as head of the audit department till 2012. He also is a member of several professional association in Luxembourg, such as the ILA (Institut Luxembourgeois des Administrateurs). Eric is Treasurer of Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International) an independent charity working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster.
Aymeric THUAULT
Expert in Peer-to-Peer Lending
Aymeric THUAULT
Expert in Peer-to-Peer LendingHe started his carreer as a proprietary trader in Singapore for Crédit Industriel et Commercial (CIC) and as a partner of the LINK Group in London, where he was Head of the equity structured products department. Aymeric co-founded in 2010 an international art wealth management group, LINK Management, with a head office in Luxembourg. He is also the co-founder with the swiss bank Reyl & Cie of Griffin Art Partners, a securitisation platform providing high-end non-recourse loans collateralised entirely by works of fine art. He holds a Master in Finance from ESCP-EA. Aymeric is President of Calao Africa, a Luxembourg-based NGO with a mission to protect bio-diversity and the environment in Africa.
Jean-Pierre VERNIER
Former Bank’s Senior Executive
Jean-Pierre VERNIER
Former Bank’s Senior ExecutiveHe comes from the banking world, but also from the shipping industry. Jean-Pierre has throughout his career, in France, Luxembourg and London, run several activities in the shipping, aircraft and films sectors and in the Funds and Private Banking development (Banque Worms, Locabail Intl. Finance, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, Ferline Martime Ltd, Banque Degroof). He was also a ship-broker for marine merchant ships and participated to the setting-up of a reinsurance company in Luxembourg. From 2006 to date, Jean-Pierre is administrator of Luxembourg based companies in the shipping industry and for some Luxembourg funds.
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