LSE Focal Point Podcast

Join us for another insightful episode of Focal Point where today we are joined by Tom Kapsimalis, the Managing Director and Head of Secondaries at CPP Investments. Prior to his current role, he was an Investment Banking Associate in the Syndicated and Leveraged Finance team at TD Securities, a senior investor on CPP Investments' Secondaries team, and helped establish the firm's Hedge Fund...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Michal Kowalski, the Co-Founder and Creative Director, and Michael Dariane, the Co-Founder and Sustainability Director at Blooming Haus. Prior to their current roles, Michal developed expertise in digital marketing and brand strategy while training as a professional florist, and Michael spent over 11 years as a sust...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Todd Tuckner, the Group Chief Financial Officer at UBS. Prior to his current role, he was the CFO of Global Wealth Management, Group Controller & Chief Accounting Officer, and Group Head of Tax at UBS. Todd holds a BS in Economics from Princeton University and an MBA in Accounting and Taxation from NYU Stern Sch...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Luis Oganes, the Managing Director and Head of Global Macro Research at J.P. Morgan. Prior to his current role, he worked across New York and London at J.P. Morgan, leading global research teams covering rates, currencies, commodities, and emerging markets, following earlier experience at an economic consulting firm...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Alex Grant, the Senior Vice President, UK Country Manager, and Global Head of Crude, Products and Liquids Trading at Equinor. Prior to his current role, he was Senior Vice President for Global Business Development at Equinor and spent over two decades in investment banking at JPMorgan, ABN AMRO, and Jefferies, speci...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Yann Robard, the Founder and Managing Partner at Dawson Partners. Prior to his current role, he was the Managing Director and Head of Secondaries and Co-Investments at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, helped establish CPPIB’s London office, and worked at JPMorgan Chase following his entrepreneurial venture buil...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Evie Vanezi, the EMEA Chief Executive Officer at Jefferies. Prior to her current role, she was the Chief Risk Officer at Jefferies and held positions at KPMG and the FCA. Evie holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from the LSE and a Master's in Mathematical Finance from Oxford University, and is named one of the Top...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Scott Adelson, the CEO at Houlihan Lokey. Prior to his current role, he was Co-President and Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is also an entrepreneur with experience...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by John Taft, the Vice Chair of Baird and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Prior to his current role, he was the CEO of RBC Wealth Management for a decade, and has served multiple terms on the board of directors of the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), including one year as board...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Bruno Scaroni, the Country CEO of Zurich Insurance Italy. Prior to his current role, he was the Group Chief Transformation Officer at Generali, following roles across management consulting at McKinsey. Bruno holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and is passionate about the social impact of insurance—helping ind...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Michael Woolhouse, the Co-Managing Partner of TPG GP Solutions. Prior to his current role, he was an Investment Aanking Analyst in the FIG team at Salomon Brothers, a Manager at Bain & Company across Toronto, Singapore and Hong Kong, Head of Strategy at AXA Japan, and a Director in the FIG team at TD Securities in...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Francisco Almeida, Managing Director and Head of Global Markets Client Strategy at Barclays. Prior to his current role, he was Global Markets Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff to the Credit Trading business, and worked in strategic consulting and organisational transformation across Europe and Southeast Asia. Francisco...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Michael Schad, a Partner and the Head of Credit Secondaries at Coller Capital. Prior to his current role, he was an investment banker at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse First Boston. Michael holds a BA in International Business Studies from European Business School and an MSc in Finance from London Business School a...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Michael Grampp , the Chief Economist and Head of Thought Leadership at Deloitte Switzerland. Prior to his current role, he worked in financial services in London, held roles in investment banking research at Bankers Trust, and co-founded a renewable energy venture in Australia. Michael holds a Master’s degree from t...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by William Guillet de Chatellus, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Edgewater Strategy Group. Prior to his current role, he began his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley before moving into private equity at Rhône Group and later Axel Reed Capital, where he served as Vice President. William holds a BA in Econ...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Megan McDonald, the CEO of Daiwa Capital Markets Europe. Prior to her current role, she worked in corporate law, transitioned into investment banking at Standard Bank, and later led securitization and broader capital markets businesses. Megan holds a university degree as the first in her family to graduate and is a...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Karim Chedid, Managing Director and Head of EMEA Investment Strategy at BlackRock. Prior to his current role, he was a strategist on the equity derivatives desk at Nomura and a founding member of the investment strategy team at BlackRock. Karim holds a degree in economics from the American University of Beirut and a M...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Alice Squires, Partner and Co-Head of Investor Advisory at Rothschild & Co, looking at topics including financial markets and careers in banking, the rise of shareholder activism and ESG challenges, and how companies engage investors and defend their strategies. Recorded in January, 2026

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Iqbal Khan, the Co-President of Global Wealth Management and President of Asia Pacific at UBS. Prior to his current role, he held various roles at EY and Credit Suisse. Iqbal holds a CPA and CFA qualification and is the recipient of the 2025 Euromoney World’s Best Private Banker award. Recorded in January, 2026

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Maria Watts, Head of Global Financial Sponsors Group and Head of Global Consumer Investment Banking at Baird. Prior to her current role, Maria worked in corporate finance at Stephens and held roles at Farlie Turner & Co and PMCF. Maria holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and graduated from Centenary...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Saul Klein, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Phoenix Court. Prior to his current role, he began his career in journalism at The Daily Telegraph before moving into technology in the US, joining Firefly Network (acquired by Microsoft), co-founding Lovefilm (acquired by Amazon), and later serving in leadership roles...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Grant Schlereth, Partner and Director of Operations and ESG at Terra Firma Capital Partners. Prior to his current role, he worked in infrastructure engineering, advised on large-scale business transformations at McKinsey & Company, and supported decarbonization strategy for financial institutions. Grant holds a Ma...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Nick Leopard, the Founder and CEO at Accordion. Prior to his current role, he worked in mezzanine investing, FIG investment banking at Bear Stearns, and credit underwriting at CapitalSource. Nick holds a BS in Finance from St. Joseph’s University and is also the co-founder of Maestro, a SaaS platform focused on valu...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Sjoerd Leenart, the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Banking for J.P. Morgan Asia Pacific. Prior to his current role, he ran Debt Capital markets in London and later oversaw the bank’s operations across the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, before rising to become the Global Head of Corporate Banking. Sjoerd holds a...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Monty Yort, a Managing Partner at Gen NX 360 Capital Partners. Prior to his current role, he was a Managing Partner at Schroders Ventures and began his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley. Monty holds a degree from UCLA and is a passionate mentor to young professionals, actively sharing guidance with stud...