Igor Akhmerov

CEO
Igor Akhmerov is the founder and CEO of Avelar Energy Group. Prior to joining Avelar, he was CFO of Renova Group, a major international investment management company with wide-ranging interests in the energy sector, including a substantial share in TNK-BP, a vertically-integrated international oil and gas company. As the Renova representative, Mr Akhmerov was actively involved in all issues presented to the Board of Directors of TNK-BP and served on the TNK-BP Compensation Committee.

Mr Akhmerov started his career with Bain & Company, before taking a role as First Vice President of Economics in TNK, one of the largest Russian oil & gas companies at that time. After the acquisition of a 50% stake in TNK by BP, he was placed in charge of strategy and investment for the newly-formed TNK-BP as Vice President for Investment Governance. He holds a BA degree from the Moscow Institute of Management, an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and MA from the Lauder Institute of International Relations.

He’s based in Zurich.

Sabrina Alfarè

Senior Accountant / Controller
Sabrina Alfarè joined Avelar Energy Group in 2010 as Senior Accountant / Controller.
Prior to joining Avelar, she worked as a Treasury Accountant in a world wide operating recruitment company and was responsible for the accounting and management reporting of the Treasury department.
She received her Professional Bachelor in Business Administration in 2008.

She’s based in Zurich.

Giorgio Cabibbo

Director, Conventional & Renewable Energy
Giorgio Cabibbo is a director of AEG focusing on conventional and renewable energy. Previously, he had worked as a Senior Consultant and Energy Practice Specialist at Bain & Company in Milan and was responsible for the development of the business strategy, the evaluation of businesses and Risk Management. Prior to this position he was employed at Edison S.p.A in Milan as a Senior Risk Analyst. He was responsible for the development of risk management models for international commodity markets and collaborated with the energy trade office.
He received an MBA from MIP – Politecnico di Milano in 2003. He also holds a Ph.D. in High Energy Physics from “La Sapienza” and graduated from the second University of Rome in 1996 with a summa-cum-laude degree in Nuclear Physics.

He’s based in Milan.

Alessandro Cavacece

Manager, Renewable Energy
Alessandro Cavacece is a manager focusing on the implementation of renewable energy projects in Italy.
Prior to joining Avelar, Alessandro was Project and Proposal Manager for wind farms at Falck Group and ABB Group. Prior to this, he worked for Snamprogetti as Project Engineer for petrochemical plant realization.
He received his Bachelor degree in electric engineering from Politecnico di Milan in 1990.

He’s based in Milan.

Riccardo Ciaffarafà

Associate, Conventional and Renewable Energy
Riccardo Ciaffarafa is an associate of AEG focusing on governmental and institutional relations.
He has a long political background where he held various functions including group leader city councilman, delegate in CdA Fiorareti Spa (energetic and water works), member of political party in the Tuscany area.
Riccardo holds a master degree in Political Science from “Cesare Alfieri” University of Florence.

He’s based in Milan.

Gianpiero Coppola

Director, Renewable Energy
Gianpiero Coppola is a director of AEG, focusing on renewable projects in Italy and abroad.
Prior to joining Avelar, he was working for Eni SpA, where he was mainly involved in Business Development and Gas Commercialization. In 2003 he was appointed Managing Director of SEGAS in Egypt, an Affiliate of Union Fenosa Gas, and successfully managed the implementation of the LNG project in Damietta. He combines an intimate knowledge of the oil & gas sector with expertise in international agreements and negotiations.
He holds a Masters degree in law from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milano.

He’s based in Milan.

Elisabetta De Michelis

General Counsel
Elisabetta De Michelis joined Avelar Energy Group in 2008 as Senior Legal Counsel of Avelar Management Ltd. and as of April 2, 2009 she has been promoted to General Counsel of Avelar Energy Group. She had previously worked as associate in the Italian offices of major British (1999-2004) and Italian (2004-2008) international law firms. She graduated from the LUISS-Guido Carli University of Rome. She was admitted to the Italian Bar in 2002.

She’s based in Milan.

Marco Giorgi

Executive Vice President, Head of Italian Office
Marco Giorgi is the Executive Vice President of AEG and head of Italian office.
Prior to joining Avelar, he was a Senior Manager in the European Energy Practice of Bain & Company. Prior to that, he spent several years in the investment banking, working for ABN AMRO and Rothschild on a number of Equity Capital markets and M&A transactions across Europe.
Marco holds a summa-cum-laude degree in Economics from “La Sapienza” University of Rome, a Master in Finance from London Business School as well as an MBA from Oxford Said Business School.

He’s based in Milan.

Sara Grandi

Financial Controller, Italy
Sara Grandi is the Financial Controller of Avelar Energy Group in Italy. She graduated from Università Cattolica of Milan. Since 1994 she has built a professional experience in accounting and financial control, starting as a public accountant in the U.S., then working in Milan as financial controller for international groups, then becoming the CFO of a french controlled company where she spent several years before joining Avelar in the summer of 2008.

She’s based in Milan.

Natalia Pevchikh

Manager, Conventional and Renewable Energy
Natalia Pevchikh is a manager of AEG and head of Moscow office. She is focused on partnerships with the Russian companies for the realization of joint projects on the European energy market.
Prior to joining Avelar, Natalia worked as a Department Director of Renova and was responsible for business planning, management reporting and asset valuation of companies for Renova Group. Prior to that, Natalia worked at the oil company TNK-BP and was responsible for the budgeting and management accounting. Natalia graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University. She holds a Bachelor and MA degree in Economics.

She’s based in Moscow.

Anke Schorr

Risk Manager
Anke Schorr is the Risk Manager of Avelar Energy Group. Prior to joining Avelar, she worked in various positions relating to strategy development and risk management in the quantitative hedge fund sector.
Anke holds a M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from ETH Zürich. In addition, she is a CFA charterholder.

She’s based in Zurich.

Andrey Seleznev

CFO
Andrey Seleznev is the Chief Financial Officer of Avelar Energy Group. Prior to joining Avelar, he served as the Deputy Head of the Planning and Performance Management department of Renova Management AG, where he was involved in establishing and carrying out business planning, management reporting and investment valuation processes of companies for Renova Group. Prior to that, he worked as a project manager in a private equity investment company and as a consultant in a management consulting company.
He holds an MBA from INSEAD, a degree in Business Studies from American Institute of Business and Economics in Moscow as well as Ph.D. and an MSc in engineering from the Moscow Aviation Institute.

He’s based in Zurich.

Jaroslav Slosar

Head of Group reporting & accounting, HR Manager
Jaroslav Slosar is the Head of Group reporting & accounting and HR Manager of Avelar Energy Group. Prior joining Avelar he worked as financial controller / billing manager in a pan European telecom operator in Switzerland, Germany and Czech Republic. His professional career started already in 1997 within the telecom industry and later in 2001 he joined a big five Company as auditor assistant. He holds a master’s degree in international trade and business law from University of economics in Prague and is certified IFRS accountant (2008) and a fellow of Association of chartered certified accountants (2011).

He’s based in Zurich.

Sandro Thoma

Legal Counsel
Sandro Thoma joined Avelar Energy Group in 2010 as Legal Counsel of Avelar Management Ltd. He had previously worked as associate with leading business law firms in Switzerland with focus on mergers & acquisitions, corporate law and compliance matters.
In 2003, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Zurich and was admitted to the bar in Switzerland in 2006.
In 2008, Sandro earned an LL.M. from University of Texas (Austin, TX).

He’s based in Zurich.

Giuseppina Zucca

Junior Legal Specialist
Giuseppina Zucca joined Avelar Energy Group in 2009 as Junior Legal Specialist of Avelar Management Ltd. Prior to joining Avelar, she was an expert litigator focusing in real estate and customer protection and worked in various Italian law firms. She graduated from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan. She was admitted to the Italian Bar in 2008.

She’s based in Milan.