Link Financial’s senior management team draws from a breadth of experience in professional services and banking organisations. These include some of the world’s largest consulting firms and financial institutions. On average, the senior team has been with the company for more than seven years, providing continuity and stability to our clients, investors and employees. Since Link’s management are also shareholders in the business there is a strong culture of compliance and stewardship throughout the organisation.

Philippe Paillart, French, (Chairman, Non Executive Director, Group):
Most recently Philippe was Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of DBS. Prior to that he was Chairman and Group Chief Executive of Ford Credit, Head of Personal Banking at Standard Chartered and European Head of Personal Banking for Citibank. A graduate of Ecole Superieur du Commerce de Paris, Paillart holds a degree in law, a doctorate in Economics and a PMD from Harvard Business School.

Paul Burdell, American, (Managing Director, UK & Group):
Paul Burdell is a founding member and Chief Executive of Link Financial. He was a career investment banker before he co-founded The Octagon Group in 1988, one of Europe’s first proprietary hedge funds.  Paul co-founded Link Financial in 1998.

Selina Burdell, British, (Chief Operating Officer, UK & Group):
Selina is a co-founder of Octagon Group and of Link Financial, where she is Chief Operating Officer. The Head of Systems & Administration at Octagon, Selina brings a wealth of expertise to Link Financial, including the development of its proprietary software and operational administration and applications.

Adrian Cloake, British, (Chief Investment Officer, UK & Group):
Prior to joining Link in 2002, Adrian was with Arthur Andersen in the Corporate Finance division advising on mid-market private equity and leveraged finance transactions, including Link’s raising of venture capital in 1999-2000. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA), holds a Securities Institute diploma and graduated in Classics from the University of Oxford.

Rafael Gonzalo, Spanish, (Managing Director, Spain):
Rafael is the Managing Director of Link Finanzas. Before joining Link he was a Director at PwC in their Transactions Services Strategy Group having previously been withBain & Company advising on M&A, sales and marketing projects following banking roles at Banesto and Merrill Lynch. Rafael graduated from Universidad Complutense (MSc Bus.), Madrid and was awarded an MBA from Insead,

Donato Pinto, Italian, (Managing Director, Italy):
Donato is the Managing Director of Link Finanziaria. The majority of his career has been spent at GE where he became CEO of GE Commercial Finance in Italy. After GE, he founded Speciality Finance Trust which provides financing solutions to suppliers and Italian Public Authorities related entities. He has an MBA from Luigi Bocconi University and a Master in Science from University of Rome ' La Sapienza‘.

Stephan Schuller, German, (Managing Director, Germany):
Before joining Link, Stephan was a Managing Director at EOS Group where he was responsible for Risk & Portfolio management areas. Prior to that he was a senior manager at InFoScore where he launched their debt purchase business. Stephan graduated from the University of Mannheim with a degree in Business and Finance

Simon Coates, British, (Managing Director, Germany):
Simon is responsible for Link’s secured (mortgage NPL) business in Germany. In a career spanning 20 years in Corporate & Retail Banking, Simon Coates has worked for Standard Bank, Citibank, HBOS and BNP Paribas primarily focused on the areas of Corporate Finance and the financing and Work Out of NPL and distressed debt. Before joining Link, he spent three years with Hudson Advisors Germany. He studied Economics and holds a Securities Institute Diploma.

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