AVP Reinforces Its Leadership Team: Warda Shaheen Joins AVP as a General Partner for the AVP Late Stage Fund in Europe, while Pedro Barros Takes on the Role of Partner in Charge of Investor Relations
May 16 2024 - 2:00AM
Business Wire
- In the context of the launch of the €1.5 billion Late Stage
Fund, AVP (AXA Venture Partners) has strengthened its leadership
team by appointing two new Partners: Warda Shaheen as General
Partner, to take a prominent role in the new Late Stage Fund in
Europe, and Pedro Barros as Partner overseeing Fundraising and
Investor Relations.
- Formerly a Director at OMERS Growth Equity, where she led
global software investments, Warda brings extensive experience as
an investor in high-growth late stage technology companies, coupled
with experience in public markets and a robust international
background. Warda will relocate to Paris and will play a leading
role in investing the Late Stage Fund in Europe contributing to the
success of this new AVP strategy globally, leveraging her
international expertise and industry knowledge acquired at OMERS
and CPP Investments.
- Pedro joins AVP from Target Global, where he served as a
Partner responsible for fundraising, investor relations, and
liquidity solutions. With a wealth of experience in private
markets, Pedro will be based in London and will further enhance
AVP's investor relations function.
In the context of the launch of its Late Stage Fund, AVP
continues to strengthen its leadership team to reinforce its global
platform.
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First, after the recruitment of Elizabeth de Saint-Aignan in the
USA, Warda's appointment in Europe completes the senior team of the
new AVP Late Stage Fund.
Prior to joining AVP, Warda Shaheen held the position of
Director at OMERS Growth Equity, where she conducted investments in
prominent software companies such as Coveo, TouchBistro, PandaDoc,
Clio, Celigo and GitLab. Previously, Warda worked in public markets
at CPP Investments where she ran a $500M public markets portfolio
in the thematic investing team. She also worked at Point72 Asset
Management, Bain & Company and Deutsche Bank. Warda has
experience working in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom,
Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany. Warda holds an MSc in Financial
Economics from the University of Oxford, a BESc in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of Western University and an HBA in
Business Administration the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Second, Pedro's appointment as Partner in charge of investor
relations underlines AVP's objective of managing more capital for
top tier institutional investors. Pedro brings extensive experience
in fundraising of technology funds, from his tenure at Target
Global, where he played a key role in fundraising multiple tech
funds and fostering investor relationships. He has also held senior
positions at MVision and Hamilton Lane. Having started his career
in the venture capital arm of FINEP, the Brazilian innovation
agency, Pedro holds an MBA and a BSc in Industrial Engineering from
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.
“On behalf of the AVP team, I am delighted to extend a warm
welcome to Warda and Pedro as our newest Partners. I am also very
proud that AVP can attract such talents, and in the case of Warda,
convince top tier investor in the North American market to come to
Paris. Warda will play a key role in developing our new Late Stage
Fund strategy, focusing on Europe. With this new Late Stage fund,
we now have the capability to support entrepreneurs throughout
their journey, from the early stages to IPO, as well as post-IPO,
which sets us apart in the market. Warda brings extensive knowledge
and a proven track record in investing in Late Stage companies in
the US and in Europe. In the context of our platform expansion and
ongoing fundraising efforts across various strategies, we are very
happy to benefit from Pedro’s substantial fundraising experience of
technology focused fund. His background at Target Global will
undoubtedly add value to the entire AVP platform. At AVP, nothing
is more important than the quality, the diversity and the
complementarity of the team. Since 8 years, we have welcomed 9
Partners and are now ready to further expand the team with these
two talents. No doubt that they will play a key role in the next
chapter of our journey," commented François Robinet,
Managing Partner at AVP.
“I am thrilled to become a part of the outstanding team of
investors at AVP. Since I was introduced to the firm, I recognized
this platform had the vision, skills, and leadership to amplify the
global landscape of technology investing with a diverse partnership
that leverages expertise across the financing spectrum. AVP's Late
Stage strategy in Europe addresses several challenges in the
European ecosystem, including the shortage of local funding for
exceptional European technology leaders to expand globally. At AVP,
we look forward to bringing our collective knowledge to support
such leaders at various stages in both the private and public
markets,” commented Warda Shaheen, General Partner at
AVP.
“I am excited to join an incredibly talented team of investor at
AVP. I have been fortunate to follow the development of the
platform over the years and, now as part of the team, look forward
to develop their robust capital base to attract additional top tier
institutional investors globally,” commented Pedro Barros,
Partner at AVP.
About AVP (AXA Venture Partners)
AVP (AXA Venture Partners) is a global venture capital firm
specializing in high-growth, technology- enabled companies,
managing more than $2 billion in assets across four investment
strategies: Venture, Growth, Late Stage, and Fund of Funds. Since
its establishment in 2016, AVP has invested in more than 60
technology companies in Venture and Growth stages in the US and
Europe.
With offices in New York, London, and Paris, AVP supports
companies in expanding internationally and provides portfolio
companies with tailored business development opportunities to
further accelerate their growth. AVP operates under AXA IM- Alts,
the alternative investment business unit of AXA IM.
For more information, visit axavp.com
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AVP – Sébastien Loubry : sebastien@axavp.com / + 33 6 15 31 61
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