LSE Focal Point Podcast

Join us for another interesting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Thomas Brunskill, the Co-Founder and CEO of Forage, the website that offers multiple free virtual work experience programmes. Prior to his role at Forage, he was an M&A Solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons and Corporate Lawyer at MinterEllison. Thomas studied at the Australian National University. Recorded in September 2021.

Join us for another brilliant episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Will Gardiner, the CEO of Drax Group. Prior to his role at Drax Group, he was the CFO of Drax, the CFO of CSR, a Group Board Member and CFO of Easynet Group and the Vice President European Telecoms Group at J.P. Morgan. Will graduated from the John Hopkins University for his Masters degree, and Harvard for his Bachelor degree. Recorded in April 2021.

Join us for another inspiring episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Phillip Wright, a Managing Director and the European COO at PJT Partners. Prior to his role at PJT Partners, he was a Lead Account Management and Business Manager in the UK Chief Executive Office at UBS, and has also worked at Lloyds Bank and Citi. Phillip graduated from Nottingham Business School with a degree in Business Administration and Management. Recorded in June 2021.

Join us for another exciting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by David Lloyd, the General Manager of UK, Netherlands and Nordics at Alibaba. Prior to his role at Alibaba, he was a Sector Lead in Retail and Technology at Google, and a consultant at Breakthrough, a human rights group. David graduated from the University of Oxford after studying English and French. Recorded in June 2021.

Join us for another amazing episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Christian Berchem, the Head of Private Banking at Credit Suisse. Prior to his role at Credit Suisse, he was a Managing Director at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management and Head of Euro Equity Sales at J.P. Morgan. Christian graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management. Recorded in June 2021.

Join us for another inspiring episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Luke Spells! Mr Spells is a Managing Director at Citi in the Investment Banking Division. Prior to his role at Citi, he worked at Hawkpoint specialising in UK M&A and before that was at Citi doing TMT Investment Banking. Luke is a graduate from the University of Bristol. Recorded in March 2021.

Join us for another exciting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Guy Hands! Mr Hands is the Founder and Chairman at Terra Firma Capital Partners, one of the largest Private Equity firms in Europe. Prior to founding Terra Firma, he was at Nomura International where he established the Principal Finance Group which eventually spun out to Terra Firma, and at Goldman Sachs International where he became the Head of Eurobond Trading and Head of the Global Asset Structuring Group. Guy is the President of the 'Access for Excellence' to promote access to higher education in the UK, and has an MA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University. Recorded in June 2021.

Join us for another interesting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Maximilian Kunkel! Mr Kunkel is the Chief Investment Officer in Global Family Office and a Managing Director at UBS. Prior to his current role, he has been the Regional Chief Investment Officer in Germany and Austria and the Head UHNW Investment Specialists in Latin America. Maximilian has completed a Masters at the LSE in Management after other degrees from the CEMS and King's College London. Recorded in April 2021.

Join us for another brilliant episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Spiro Youakim! Mr Youakim is a Managing Director and the Global Head of Natural Resources at Lazard. Prior to Lazard, he was a Managing Director at Citi and Vice President at Credit Lyonnais. Spiro has also completed a Masters in Business Administration at Institut Supérieur de Gestion. Recorded in March 2021.

Join us for another remarkable episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Andrew Koval! Mr Koval is the Global Co-Head of Leveraged Finance & EMEA Head of Global Credit Finance at State Street. In his role, Andrew manages a platform of over $10 billion in leveraged loan, CLO and fund finance investments. Prior to his role at State Street, he was a Credit Funds Manager at Intermediate Capital Group and a Debt Manager at 3i Group. Recorded in March 2021.