Team

Senior team driving the
initiative
Roman Sulzhyk
Partner, based in Kyiv
Antonio Mexia
Partner
Žilvinas Mecelis
Strategic Advisor

Roman has 20+ years of experience in international capital markets. In 2015-2016, he was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the National Depository of Ukraine. In 2019, Roman became an independent member of the Board of Directors of PrivatBank. From April 2012, Roman worked as head of the Moscow Exchange Derivatives Market. From 2008 to 2011, he worked as a Director of the rates trading department at Deutsche Bank in Moscow. From 2000 to 2008 Roman worked at JP Morgan Chase in New York and London as a Vice President, taking part in the development of risk management and derivatives trading at the bank. From 1995-2000, Roman worked in the IT departments of several technology companies in New York. Roman obtained an MBA from New York University of Business and studied Computer Science & Mathematics at Leeds University.

Antonio is a former CEO EDP - Energias de Portugal. Antonio has over 20 years as CEO of energy companies and as an advocate of corporations’ crucial role in promoting ESG criteria for sustainable development – economical, social, cultural and environmental. Antonio was focused on anticipating trends in the energy sector, aligning its business model with the energy transition, the challenges of climate change and shaping the world of renewable energies, leading the creation of a world leader in the area. Antonio has started his career as assistant professor in Economics in University of Lisbon.

Žilvinas (Zach) is a Founding Partner of Covalis. He began his investment management career in 2000 and, in 2004, was promoted to Director of Utilities Research, managing a team of eight analysts covering US utilities. Subsequently, Zach was recruited by GLG Partners LP (“GLG”) in London to run a long-short utilities strategy focused on Europe. Zach was ranked the #1 buy-side individual in the 2006 and 2007 Thomson Reuters Extel Survey by European utility company executives. In 2009, Zach moved his team to the then-Fortune 500 company Noble Group, where he launched and ran Arc Asset Management. In 2012, Zach co-founded Covalis Capital, a standalone investment management firm, where he has continued the same strategy as CIO. Together with his co-Managing Partners, Zach leads a global strategy and team comprising over 40 investment professionals worldwide.

Paulius Kuncinas
Partner
Remigijus Šimašius
Partner

Paulius has 20+ years experience in national development and sovereign investment strategies. He was in charge of Ukraine economic and FDI reporting for Oxford Business Group from 2007-2011, and founders of English-language business publication, Business Ukraine. He closely follows the EU accession process, implementation of external funding programs and development of transformation plans. Previously he advised post-conflict countries in South and South East Asia – such as Myanmar, Indonesia and Sri Lanka – on transition to democracy and market functioning with a focus on globally competitive investment strategies and FDI. Paulius holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Trinity College, Oxford and a Masters in Politics and Economics of Transition from St Antony’s College, Oxford.

Remigijus has over 15 years of experience in public administration as former mayor of Vilnius (2015-2023) and former Minister of Justice of Lithuania (2008–2012). Remigijus Šimašius has a track record on systemic economic and legal reforms, as well as the experience to lead the city out of the troubled financial situation, to introduce best management practices of SOEs, efficient anti corruption and investment attraction policies. From 2006-2008, he was the President of the leading Think Tank - Lithuanian Free Market Institute. Remigijus Šimašius holds a Masters Degree in Commercial Law, and a PhD in Social Sciences.





On the ground team in Kyiv
Oleksii Niekrasa
Principal

Supported by an analyst team based in Ukraine.

Oleksii Niekrasa joined Ukraine Breakthrough Investments in July 2024. He began his professional career in investments in 2005 as an equity analyst at Millenium Capital in Kyiv. In 2008, while at Galt & Taggart Securities, Oleksii was named top three analyst, mechanical engineering, in Ukraine by Thomson Extel Surveys.
Prior to joining Ukraine Breakthrough Investments, he worked at Noosphere Ventures, first as an investment analyst, then as a portfolio manager.
Oleksii is an experienced analyst with a demonstrated history of work in the investment management industry. He is a strong business development professional skilled in corporate advisory, sell- and buy-side mergers & acquisitions, and corporate finance. Other areas of expertise include renewable energy and utilities.