Investment Team
Ashenafi Alemu
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Ashenafi is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Zoscales Partners and a Member of the Investment Committee. He has over a decade of experience in management consulting, infrastructure investments, and economic policy both in East Africa and Europe. Previously, he took part in establishing a corporate finance and management-consulting boutique in Addis Ababa: North-South Consulting Group. He holds an MSc in Economics from Aarhus University (Denmark), a BSc in International Business from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), and a BSc from Aarhus School of Business (Denmark).
Jacop B. Rentschler
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Jacop is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Zoscales Partners and a Member of the Investment Committee. Before Zoscales, Jacop made his mark in the investment management area for over a decade, undertaking investment advisor and client portfolio manager roles with Rothschild, Nordea Asset Management, and UBS. He worked with UHNWIs, family offices, institutional investors, and foundations. Jacop holds a CEMS Master’s in International Management from HEC Paris (France), an MSc in Applied Economics and Finance from Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), and a BSc in International Business from Aarhus School of Business (Denmark).
Esete Lulseged
Principal
Esete focuses on deal sourcing, initial analysis, and structuring of transaction. Esete has over 10 years of experience within M&A in Ethiopia and Africa. She managed the M&A practice of EY Ethiopia, directly reporting to the responsible partner while managing a team of eight. She advised on most of the large transactions that took place in Ethiopia. As an example, she worked on some of the notable FMCG transactions, e.g. breweries, bottled water, soap and detergent, etc. Before joining the M&A practice of EY, Esete worked as an analyst and associate within the advisory arm of EY Ethiopia, where she gained enormous experience advising Ethiopian and African companies within strategic value creation, business plan development, financial restructuring, organization transformation, performance management, etc. She also worked shortly as a lecturer at Addis Ababa University. Esete holds a Master of Business Administration from The London School of Business & Management London (UK) and a Business Management Degree from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia).
Esete Lulseged
Principal
Ruth Wanjiru
Principal
Ruth brings a wealth of investment experience from her 12-year career working for several private equity firms in the region. Prior to joining Zoscales, she worked with Actis Africa in exit management of healthcare assets in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Nigeria. Ruth has hands-on experience in deal origination, portfolio management, portfolio exit, turnaround of distressed assets, balance sheet restructure and has worked on a public-private partnership for a healthcare investment in Zambia. In addition, Ruth has served as board member and chair of Audit and Risk committees for a portfolio of investments in Kenya, Zambia, and Nigeria. Ruth holds a BSc in Statistics from the University of Nairobi (Kenya), is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and a Certified Environmental Impact Assessor and Environmental Auditor.
Ruth Wanjiru
Principal
Mohamed Saeed
Investor Relations & Capital Raising Manager
Mohamed is responsible for managing the investor relations function for existing funds and raising capital for new funds. Mohamed also dedicates time to working with the investment team on deal evaluation and execution. Prior to joining Zoscales, Mohamed gained valuable experience working as an energy finance intern with the United Nations in Paris, where he was responsible for conducting financial analysis and market research to support the development of sustainable energy projects. He also interned as an investment banking analyst at Beltone Financial in Cairo, where he was involved in a range of high-profile transactions across various sectors. Mohamed holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (MEng) from Imperial College London in London, England.
Mohamed saeed
Investor Relations & Capital Raising Manager
Haymanot Tilahun Dessie
Investment Associate
Haymanot’s main responsibilities include portfolio management, financial due diligence, financial modelling, and supporting the investment team. Prior to joining Zoscales, she interned as a trade data analyst under the Trade Promotion Sector in the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Ashoka University (India).
Haymanot Tilahun Dessie
Investment Associate
Jonathan Davidson
Investment Associate
Jonathan focuses on market research, financial modelling, due diligence, deal evaluation and value creation. Before joining Zoscales, he worked at Dalberg Advisors in Nairobi where he focused on social impact consulting across a range of sectors in East Africa. Prior to this he worked at Roland Berger in London with a focus on strategy, due diligence and portfolio value creation for corporate and private equity clients. Jonathan holds an MSc. in Management from London Business School and a BA in History from the University of Oxford.
Samuel A. Kebede
Analyst
Miguel TORRECILLA DIEZ
Investment Associate
Miguel focuses on fundraising, financial modelling, impact measurement, and portfolio management. Prior to joining Zoscales (initially as an Investment Intern), he worked as a Financial Risk Consultant for Deloitte Spain, as a data Analyst for the Danish start-up Culture Drivers, and as an external consultant for the Portuguese NGO Just a Change. Previously, he interned at Accenture Spain and in the leading Spanish law firm Cuatrecasas. Miguel holds a CEMS Master’s in International Management from NOVA SBE (Portugal), an MSc in Business and Development Studies from Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), and a dual BSc in Law and Business Administration from Carlos III University (Spain).
MIGUEL TORRECILLA DIEZ
Investment Associate
Samuel A. Kebede
Analyst
Samuel focuses on portfolio management, financial due diligence, financial modelling, and supporting the investment team. Prior to Zoscales, Samuel worked as an Equity Research Analyst at BLK Management Corporation and as a Junior Analyst Intern at Pragma Investment Advisory. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Ashoka University (India).
Simon Lundby Pedersen
Investment Intern