About us
Stronghold Venture Partners is a multifaceted investment holding company, the company prides itself as the investment holding arm of the group with vested interest and multiple investments in diversified sectors and jurisdictions. We take pride in our ability to make successful and impactful investment decisions by applying significant qualitative and quantitative research.
We operate with sound governance, agility in uncertain market conditions and proficiency in investment decisions enabling us to achieve attractive risk adjusted returns for our shareholders, beneficiaries and investors.
Our Values
Our mission is to become a formidable force in achieving risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We seek to be a notable investment company with longevity and best industry practice at its helm. On its road to becoming a globally recognized investor, Stronghold Venture Partners retains the best in talent and stakeholder engagement. We seek to combine our management team’s skill sets and know who in entrepreneurship, financial services and economics to enable us to allocate capital to the right causes achieving our target returns, outperforming the market and fundamentally making an impact directly and indirectly.
Tohib Iyiola, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Stronghold Global Finance, British born and a serial entrepreneur. Tohib has considerable experience in the investment and development cycle of real assets especially in emerging markets. He was the CEO of Citigate International Limited in the United Arab Emirates, he also held board positions in its portfolio companies as well as various senior roles in the natural resources, energy and infrastructure sector.
Tohib has gained considerable experience in capital markets, he is well grounded in structured finance, Islamic finance and the overall private markets investment space, he has been responsible for many cross border M&A transactions, private placements, investment fund placements and the issuance of various fixed income securities (conventional & Islamic).
Tohib, as Chief Executive Officer of Stronghold Global Finance has worked to develop the organisation globally and has continually deployed strategies to enhance the brand. Right from its inception he has been central to the leadership and appointment of its management team and has promoted the companies various initiatives in emerging markets.
He has built businesses in the GCC, Asia, Africa and Europe from their inception until achieving multimillion dollar valuations. Tohib is well versed in Public Private Partnerships, sovereign engagements, corporate governance, regulatory frameworks and financial services.
Tohib is a member of the London Institute of Directors and is an Alumnus of the Said Business School, Oxford University.
Over 40 years of expertise in Advisory and Regulatory Compliance, Anti Financial Crime, Internal Controls, Project, Quality & Risk Management Consultancy and Group Audit at Global Tier 1 Investment Banks - UBS Investment Bank (CRO), Bank of America, BNP Paribas USA and Bank of New York Mellon.
Tom has also worked with two of the ‘’Top Four’’ professional services firms, Deloitte USA as part of the Financial Services Advisory team (fifteen years) and Grant Thornton UK (six years) as a senior consultant in Business Risk Services.
His focus has been on successfully building out and managing Risk, Compliance and Audit functions teams for a range of organizations across all five continents and multiple jurisdictions.
Corporate Finance professional with over 25 years working in the Trade & Export Finance; Asset Finance & Asset Based Lending sectors. Co-Founding MD of GMAC (UK) Asset Finance and Landsbanki Equipment Finance. Co-founding director of Ex-Works Capital’s London office, specialising in working capital bridges.
Experience in International Asset Finance & ABL funding of Corporate assets; Structured & Leverage Finance; Trade & Export Finance facilities, including non-domestic Receivables funding and Supply Chain Finance; Restructure Finance; Corporate Auctioneering; Valuation & Asset repatriation & Disposals.
Experience in the establishment and management of corporate finance businesses and building their sales portfolios through transacting in the UK, US, EMEA, and Far Eastern regions, with extensive senior-level relationships in the banking and industrial sectors. Track record of sales & management positions within respected global banks, financial institutions, and industrial groups in the UK, Europe, US, and Australia. Non-Exec director of a Swiss industrial conglomerate.
Member of the Turnaround Management Association; Institute of Export; British Exporters Association and the British Venture Capital Association.
Finance & Leasing Degree from London City University.
Previously worked in the Investment Banking teams at Stifel and Cantor Fitzgerald in London. Prior to that Justin was an Associate Solicitor in Weil Gotshal’s London Office where he was part of the Private Funds team.
Advised on numerous corporate finance transactions including M&A, private capital investments, corporate strategy as well as IPOs and other equity capital market dealings and debt transactions.
Is a non-practising solicitor, having previously advised a range of investment fund managers on the establishment and operation of private investment funds including in relation to fundraising and general financial services regulatory issues under UK, European and global financial services law.
Masters of Business Administration, a LLB (Hons.) and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University.
Tayo is an Associate within the Equity Capital Markets Division (ECM) of Stronghold Global Finance. Having worked within the group from its earlier days, the opportunity to replicate the successful strategy and aggressive approach to markets demonstrated in the Middle East, Africa and now to other emerging markets is what excites Tayo about Stronghold Global Finance. Tayo previously worked as an Investment Analyst within Citigate International and its predecessor which is now CGMG Holdings with a particular focus on equity and M&A transactions in the Natural Resources and Infrastructure sectors of Sub-Saharan Africa. Experience working on early-stage Green Field projects to Mergers and acquisitions with AIM and TSX listed entities, Tayo has acquired the knowledge and ability to provide complex solutions in challenging markets. Tayo also boasts a proficiency in project finance, demonstrated in the execution of national infrastructure projects in the West African Sub-region. Tayo Holds a BSc in Economics from The University of East Anglia.
Katerina is an Associate within the Debt Capital Markets Division (DCM) of Stronghold Global Finance. With over six years of experience in the investment banking industry she was attracted to SGF’s entrepreneurial spirit and the opportunity to build out the DCM platform globally. Katerina was previously a New Business Associate within Nomura International Plc in the City of London with a particular focus in transactions in Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance as well as in Financing Solutions for Sponsors and for Corporate Clients operating in various sectors and geographies. Katerina displays also a risk management background in investment and market risk within major financial institutions with credit portfolios and started her career at the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg as a market risk analyst overlooking the loan portfolio. Katerina holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Cass Business School in the City University of London and a BSc in Banking and Financial Management. Katerina has also undertaken executive education courses in Project Finance and Infrastructure at ESCP Europe and Oxford Universities.
