ROBERTO PETZ
Roberto Petz, a Senior Partner at Touchstone Capital Group, has a distinguished career spanning over 25 years in investment banking, corporate finance, and development projects, particularly across Africa, Europe, and South America. His expertise lies in international origination, capital markets, and financial structuring, having worked with renowned financial institutions such as VTB Capital, Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Fletcher International Limited. Petz has led significant debt, equity, commodities, and trade finance initiatives for public sector and corporate clients in diverse regions, specializing in emerging markets such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Italy, and Portugal. His work in corporate advisory and investment banking has included the execution of complex financing structures, including interest rate swaps, commodities solutions, and real estate advisory.
Mr ROBERTO PETZ Story
Roberto Petz's career reflects a unique blend of high-level finance expertise, strategic advisory, and a strong commitment to development and humanitarian efforts, particularly in emerging markets. His role in co-founding the Venture Capital Fund for Africa underscores his dedication to fostering economic growth and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund aimed to bring together private capital to support local businesses and infrastructure projects that would drive sustainable development in the region. Similarly, his involvement in the Africa Must Unite initiative, which he co-founded with Hon. Samia Nkrumah, demonstrated his long-term vision to promote African unity through finance, creating partnerships and mobilizing resources for social and economic development. This initiative focused on financing development projects in Ghana, tackling challenges such as poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare.
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Additionally, Petz's humanitarian involvement has been significant. As the Project Manager for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Mozambique, he managed a USD 50 million portfolio dedicated to addressing pressing development needs, such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and sanitation. His work in Mozambique, particularly coordinating with donor agencies, governments, and NGOs, highlights his ability to manage large-scale development projects that address critical needs in conflict and post-conflict regions. His time in Mozambique also showcased his expertise in cross-sector collaboration, resource mobilization, and crisis management, all while keeping a focus on long-term sustainability and local community impact.
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Petz's academic background provides a strong foundation for his professional success. In addition to his MBA from SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he earned a Master’s degree in Area Studies (Africa) from SOAS, where he focused on economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, giving him deep insights into the region's challenges and opportunities. His degree in Political Science from Universita’ La Sapienza further shaped his understanding of international relations, governance, and development policies. Fluent in Italian, English, French, and Portuguese, Petz's linguistic and cultural fluency has enabled him to navigate complex international markets with ease, fostering cross-border relationships and partnerships.
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Petz's experiences in Italy, the UK, South Africa, and Mozambique have significantly shaped his global perspective, giving him the ability to operate effectively in diverse and challenging environments. His diverse career trajectory—from corporate finance to impact investing and humanitarian work—reflects his versatile leadership style and his ability to create value not only for investors but also for communities in need, whether through infrastructure, education, or financial empowerment. His professional journey exemplifies a blend of financial expertise, strategic thinking, and social responsibility that makes him a valuable asset in any investment or development initiative.