Meet Our Team

Negma is comprised of talented, creative and distinctly well-rounded financial professionals confident in their ability and committed to those they serve.
Elaf Gassam
Chairman
Elaf Gassam
Chairman

Elaf Gassam founded Negma in 2013 and is Executive Chairman of the Board with over 15 years’ experience in global finance and industrial projects. Elaf is responsible for the overall strategic direction and promotion of the Negma Group.

Francois Houssin
Managing Partner
Francois Houssin
Managing Partner

As Managing Partner of Negma, François is responsible for developing and setting goals for the organization, as well as supporting Negma’s market strategy, client relationship, innovation, and process.

Prior to joining Negma, François was responsible for the Equity Capital Markets activity of KPMG Corporate Finance. François brings more than twenty years of ECM, financing solutions, and M&A experience from leading investment banks and exchanges in addition to a large network of small, mid and large cap listed companies.

Rodolfo Galbiati
Director, ECM
Rodolfo Galbiati
Director, ECM

Rodolfo Galbiati is the fund manager of Negma group and is responsible for structuring financing products across all sectors focusing on the Italian and Swiss market.

Prior to joining Negma, Rodolfo worked as a Quantitative Analyst and Credit Analyst across different funds in Europe. Rodolfo holds and MSc in Finance from Edhec Business School in Nice and a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.

Elaf Gassam
Chairman

Elaf Gassam founded Negma in 2013 and is Executive Chairman of the Board with over 15 years’ experience in global finance and industrial projects. Elaf is responsible for the overall strategic direction and promotion of the Negma Group.

Francois Houssin
Managing Partner

As Managing Partner of Negma, François is responsible for developing and setting goals for the organization, as well as supporting Negma’s market strategy, client relationship, innovation, and process.

Prior to joining Negma, François was responsible for the Equity Capital Markets activity of KPMG Corporate Finance. François brings more than twenty years of ECM, financing solutions, and M&A experience from leading investment banks and exchanges in addition to a large network of small, mid and large cap listed companies.

Rodolfo Galbiati
Director, ECM

Rodolfo Galbiati is the fund manager of Negma group and is responsible for structuring financing products across all sectors focusing on the Italian and Swiss market.

Prior to joining Negma, Rodolfo worked as a Quantitative Analyst and Credit Analyst across different funds in Europe. Rodolfo holds and MSc in Finance from Edhec Business School in Nice and a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.

Roberto Culicchi
Director of ECM Italy
Roberto Culicchi
Director of ECM Italy

As Director of Negma, Roberto is responsible for the equity Capital Markets activity of Negma in Italy. Roberto has a top-notched expertise in capital markets having assisted for more than twenty years some of the most important Italian industrial and financial groups in relation to a variety of equity transactions.

Prior to joining Negma, Roberto was the Partner responsible for the Equity Capital Markets activity of Hogan Lovells in Italy and the General Counsel of a Swiss Bank. Roberto holds a Law Degree from the University of Pisa and an LL.M. from New York University – School of Law.

Youcef Oudjidane
Managing Partner, Negma Ventures
Youcef Oudjidane
Managing Partner, Negma Ventures

Youcef Oudjidane is the co-founder of Bloom (YC W22) and founder of Byld Ventures.

Youcef was previously head of investments at the Dubai Future Foundation. He started his career on Wall Street with Solebury Capital, a boutique Investment Bank that was later acquired by PNC Financial Services (NYSE: PNC).

Alexandre Lancel
Middle Office Associate
Alexandre Lancel
Middle Office Associate

As Middle Office Associate, Alexandre’s role includes liaising relevant information between companies and the Negma Team (Back and Front Office).

Previously, Alexandre worked for BNP Paribas as P&L Market risk Analyst, in charge of calculating the performance of different desks and control Risk.

Alexandre holds a master’s degree in Market Finance.

Roberto Culicchi
Director of ECM Italy

As Director of Negma, Roberto is responsible for the equity Capital Markets activity of Negma in Italy. Roberto has a top-notched expertise in capital markets having assisted for more than twenty years some of the most important Italian industrial and financial groups in relation to a variety of equity transactions.

Prior to joining Negma, Roberto was the Partner responsible for the Equity Capital Markets activity of Hogan Lovells in Italy and the General Counsel of a Swiss Bank. Roberto holds a Law Degree from the University of Pisa and an LL.M. from New York University – School of Law.

Youcef Oudjidane
Managing Partner, Negma Ventures

Youcef Oudjidane is the co-founder of Bloom (YC W22) and founder of Byld Ventures.

Youcef was previously head of investments at the Dubai Future Foundation. He started his career on Wall Street with Solebury Capital, a boutique Investment Bank that was later acquired by PNC Financial Services (NYSE: PNC).

Alexandre Lancel
Middle Office Associate

As Middle Office Associate, Alexandre’s role includes liaising relevant information between companies and the Negma Team (Back and Front Office).

Previously, Alexandre worked for BNP Paribas as P&L Market risk Analyst, in charge of calculating the performance of different desks and control Risk.

Alexandre holds a master’s degree in Market Finance.

Dustine Talavera
Head of Finance
Dustine Talavera
Head of Finance

As the Head of Finance, Dustine is responsible for overseeing the finance and operations for Negma group and has over 9 years of experience in audit, accounting, fund operations and administration.

Prior to joining Negma, Dustine worked with Deloitte Philippines where he gained experience in audit of various financial services. He is also a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants having qualified in 2012.

Victoria Andrianjafy
Executive & Operations Assistant
Victoria Andrianjafy
Executive & Operations Assistant

As Executive and Operations Assistant, Victoria brings six years of experience in project management and event planning acquired in various roles in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior to joining Negma, Victoria held responsibilities across different sectors ranging from private banking to luxury goods companies.

Aditya Phillips
Head of Proprietary Trading
Aditya Phillips
Head of Proprietary Trading

As Head of Proprietary Trading, Aditya is responsible for research and discretionary trading across multiple asset classes, including equities, options, and indices for the group.

Prior to Negma, he worked at several brokerage firms, family offices and multi-strategy proprietary trading firms, focusing on research, analytics, execution and risk management. Aditya holds a master’s degree in Applied Finance from the University of Wollongong, Australia, with a focus in Investments.

Dustine Talavera
Head of Finance

As the Head of Finance, Dustine is responsible for overseeing the finance and operations for Negma group and has over 9 years of experience in audit, accounting, fund operations and administration.

Prior to joining Negma, Dustine worked with Deloitte Philippines where he gained experience in audit of various financial services. He is also a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants having qualified in 2012.

Victoria Andrianjafy
Executive & Operations Assistant

As Executive and Operations Assistant, Victoria brings six years of experience in project management and event planning acquired in various roles in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior to joining Negma, Victoria held responsibilities across different sectors ranging from private banking to luxury goods companies.

Aditya Phillips
Head of Proprietary Trading

As Head of Proprietary Trading, Aditya is responsible for research and discretionary trading across multiple asset classes, including equities, options, and indices for the group.

Prior to Negma, he worked at several brokerage firms, family offices and multi-strategy proprietary trading firms, focusing on research, analytics, execution and risk management. Aditya holds a master’s degree in Applied Finance from the University of Wollongong, Australia, with a focus in Investments.

Roberto Castiglioni
Trader
Roberto Castiglioni
Trader

As the trader of the Equity Capital Markets department of Negma, Roberto manages the portfolio of the division and supports the managers daily with researches, simulations and market insights.

Prior to Negma, he worked in financial institutions across Europe as an Analyst. Roberto holds a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from the University La Sapienza of Rome and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Roma Tre University.

Merzel Apatan
Head of Human Resources
Merzel Apatan
Head of Human Resources

Merzel is the HR Department head and Office Manager of Negma Group with over 13 years of experience in office administration, HR, and assisting C-level executives.

Prior to joining to Negma, she worked for a travel and advertising agency in Dubai. Merzel studied Business Management at the University of the Philippines – Cebu.

Joanne Carren Santua
Accountant
Joanne Carren Santua
Accountant

Joanne is the Accountant at Negma Group, assisting in overseeing the finance and operations of the company.

Previous six years working experience and having an exposure in fund administration and accounting in the UAE and of US-based funds.

Joanne holds a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and a Certified Public Accountant.

Roberto Castiglioni
Trader

As the trader of the Equity Capital Markets department of Negma, Roberto manages the portfolio of the division and supports the managers daily with researches, simulations and market insights.

Prior to Negma, he worked in financial institutions across Europe as an Analyst. Roberto holds a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from the University La Sapienza of Rome and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Roma Tre University.

Merzel Apatan
Head of Human Resources

Merzel is the HR Department head and Office Manager of Negma Group with over 13 years of experience in office administration, HR, and assisting C-level executives.

Prior to joining to Negma, she worked for a travel and advertising agency in Dubai. Merzel studied Business Management at the University of the Philippines – Cebu.

Joanne Carren Santua
Accountant

Joanne is the Accountant at Negma Group, assisting in overseeing the finance and operations of the company.

Previous six years working experience and having an exposure in fund administration and accounting in the UAE and of US-based funds.

Joanne holds a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and a Certified Public Accountant.

Marian Ursua
HR Assistant
Marian Ursua
HR Assistant

As an HR Assistant, Marian brings HR and administrative support to the team by handling employee and company related inquiries and issues.

Prior to joining Negma, she worked as a Media Coordinator at a media company where she monitored deals and company projects. Marian holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and graduated in 2018.

Marian Ursua
HR Assistant

As an HR Assistant, Marian brings HR and administrative support to the team by handling employee and company related inquiries and issues.

Prior to joining Negma, she worked as a Media Coordinator at a media company where she monitored deals and company projects. Marian holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and graduated in 2018.