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Our Team

Our greatest assets are our people and our reputation. We believe in fostering a culture of teamwork, communication and integrity. We consistently apply these core principles to our relationships with our portfolio companies and investors.

We believe that we will succeed by working collaboratively and flexibly. We run a flat organization where everyone’s voice is heard.

We believe in open communication and full transparency.

We believe in the fundamental importance of integrity. We don’t compromise the integrity of the individual or the firm for economic gain.

We want to work with companies that demonstrate similar values.

Stem Financial

Philip Lynch
Founding Partner

Sarah Wang
Partner

Phil Saligumba
Vice President

Christine Yuan
Operations and Financial Analyst

Anthony Stiefel
Independent Director

David Douglas
Senior Advisor

Operating Partners

Acclime

Martin Crawford
CEO, Acclime

Debby Davidson
COO, Acclime

TRBank

Robert B. Jordan, Jr.
CEO, Asialink

Alan Torio
CEO, TRBank

Raquel Sese
COO, TRBank

Mike Bautista
Chief Administrative Officer

Larry Lirazan
Chief Credit Officer

Hyphen Group

Shaun Kraft
CFO & COO, Hyphen Group

Prashant Aggarwal
President & Chief Commercial Officer, Hyphen Group

Inveztor™

Katee Hunter
CEO, Inveztor™

Alastair Sharpe
CPO, Inveztor™

Philip Lynch

Founding Partner

  • Founded Stem Financial in 2013
  • 25 years as an investment banker in Asia, Europe, US and Middle East
  • 21 years at Lehman Brothers and subsequently 4 years at Nomura
  • 17 years in Hong Kong working throughout Asia Pacific
  • Senior Roles at Lehman Brothers
    • Co-head of Asia Pacific Investment Banking 1999-2002
    • Head of European Financing (ECM, DCM, Lev Fin, Private Derivatives, Corporate Broking) 2003-2006
    • Co-head of European Equities 2007-2008
  • Senior Roles at Nomura
    • CEO Middle East and Africa 2008-2009
    • CEO Asia Pacific and Middle East 2010-2012

Sarah Wang

Partner

  • Joined Stem Financial in Jan-2014
  • Led due diligence and execution of our investments in Esquire, Tanay Rural Bank, Acclime and APA
  • 4 years as an investment professional in US
    • 2 years at Health Evolution Partners, a $500M middle-market private equity firm
    • 2 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Investment Banking Division
  • Graduated with a Bachelors from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Phil Saligumba

Vice President

  • Joined Stem Financial in 2016
  • Worked on M&A and Capital Markets transactions in Philippine investment banks
    • Multinational Investment Bancorporation, Corporate and Investment Banking Group
    • Amalgamated Investment Bancorporation, Investment Banking and Capital Markets Division
  • Graduated with a Bachelors from University of the Philippines-Diliman, School of Economics

Christine Yuan

Operations and Financial Analyst

  • Joined Stem Financial in 2019
  • Responsible for Operation and Research
  • Graduated with Bachelor Degree of City University of Hong Kong in Quantitative Finance and Risk Management

Anthony Stiefel

Independent Director

  • Independent Director of Stem Financial’s investment vehicles since 2014
  • 4 years at HSBC in investment banking and markets
  • 8 years at Running Bare (UK) as Founder and MD (Australia’s largest women’s active wear brand)
  • Currently an Advisor at Atlantic Partners (single family office) in Asia Pacific
  • Serves as Director on various companies in Asia Pacific

David Douglas

Senior Advisor

  • Joined Stem Financial in Jan-2015
  • Working principally on the development of Tanay Rural Bank, with specific focus on enhancing corporate governance, deepening regulatory relations and reinforcing support and control functions.
  • 25 years as a banker at Chemical Bank, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Lehman Brothers and Standard Chartered Bank in Asia and Europe
  • Senior Roles at Lehman Brothers
    • Head of Equity Capital Markets Asia 2005-2008
  • Senior Roles at Standard Chartered Bank
    • Global Head of Equity Capital Markets 2009-2013

Martin Crawford

CEO

  • Most successful corporate services executive in Asia. As CEO, built Vistra Group from small regional player to Global #3 in 9 years.
  • Expanded geographic reach from 5 countries employing c300 staff to 46 countries with over 4,100 staff.
  • Executed 35 M&A transactions in 7 years. Exceeded equity returns for 3 successive PE owners.

Debby Davidson

COO

  • Oxford educated Magic Circle corporate finance lawyer who founded 2 separate TCSP businesses in 2009: Nova Sage (an offshore incorporation business) and AFP Group (Trust and Fiduciary Services).
  • Successfully grew both companies from seed to trade sales in 2012 and 2015, respectively. 2012 to 2016 - personally drove sales pipeline to achieve organic growth in excess of 30% year on year.
  • Experienced in integrating acquired businesses regionally in Asia, both as seller and acquirer of businesses.
  • Proven track record in emerging markets. Built regional client services and sales team in Greater China and SE Asia.

Robert B. Jordan, Jr.

CEO, Asialink

  • Started career in credit as Assistant Manager of RCBC and later as Assistant Vice President of UCPB
  • In 1997, founded Asialink Finance Company in partnership with the Lugtu family
  • CEO of Asialink Finance Group (1997 – present)
  • Currently oversees 10+ successful companies in financing, credit investigation, loan collection, insurance and manpower sourcing
  • Graduated from University of the Philippines with AB in Economics and MBA from Ateneo

Alan Torio

CEO, TRBank

  • More than 20 years of experience in Credit and Corporate/Commercial Banking covering roles in loan marketing, evaluation approval, and supervision/maintenance of loan portfolio
  • Spent 12 years in Philippine banks and 11 years in the Middle East in various senior positions including Senior Vice President of the Wholesale Credit Risk Division of Gulf International Bank
  • Graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and MBA from University of the Philippines

Raquel Sese

COO, TRBank

  • Started career in banking as credit officer for middle market loans at UCPB
  • 4 years as GM of Global Dominion Financing, responsible for marketing and operations
  • Currently oversees operations at Tanay Rural Bank
  • Responsible for successful implementation of the bank’s credit strategies set by the Board
  • Graduated from University of Santo Tomas with BS Commerce Major in Economics

Mike Bautista

Chief Administrative Officer, TRBank

  • Started career as an Associate at SGV Co. in 1997 and later held various finance positions in Araneta Group of Companies and U-Land Airlines
  • More than 20 years experience in the Bank where he started as a management trainee in 2001
  • Graduated cum laude from University of Santo Tomas with BS in Accountancy
  • CPA since 1997

Larry Lirazan

Chief Credit Officer, TRBank

  • 25 years of experience in financial institutions in the Philippines and Middle East covering relationship management, research and analysis, market development, and risk management.
  • Finished Bachelors from the University of Asia and the Pacific, with specialization in Quantitative Economics. Attended the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle University for Masters in Business Administration (non-graduate: thesis pending).

Shaun Kraft

CFO & COO, Hyphen Group

  • Previously a Director at Perella Weinberg Partners in New York where he provided M&A and strategic advisory to financial institutions globally
  • Other prior positions held include COO & CFO at CMCC Global in Hong Kong and Associate at Lazard in Frankfurt
  • Graduated with a Bachelors from the University of Maastricht and Master’s degree in Finance & Investments from the Rotterdam School of Management

Prashant Aggarwal

President & Chief Commercial Officer, Hyphen Group

  • Prior to joining Hyphen Group he held various leadership positions at Visa and American Express

Katee Hunter

CEO, Inveztor™

  • Founded Inveztor™ in 2020
  • Previously held senior M&A consulting roles at PwC in the UK & North America and dealt with Fortune 500 clients in banking & technology sectors
  • Prior to PWC, worked at Nielsen and instrumental in building an award-winning start-up in New Zealand
  • Masters in Finance from HEC Paris / University of Sydney

Alastair Sharpe

CPO, Inveztor™

  • Co-founder of Inveztor™
  • Previously Vice President and EMEA Head of Design and Implementation at Deutsche Bank
  • At Deutsche Bank, led the development and launch of a new global architecture covering 10,000 deals and 18,000 clients
  • Graduated with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oxford Brookes University