Executive team
Mr. Fares Bardeesi is the Board Member and CEO of Sukna Capital, the firm he founded with a commitment to building a robust and dynamic platform for alternative investments that can drive growth and success for the next generation of businesses and investors in Saudi Arabia.
Before establishing Sukna Capital, Fares also co-founded Sukna Ventures, a Riyadh-based venture capital firm focusing on high-growth, transformational ventures in emerging technologies. He began his entrepreneurial journey in 2014 after a successful 15-year career in corporate finance and investments as a senior banker in Saudi Arabia. During this time, he managed facilities worth over USD 4 billion across various sectors and led several high-profile M&A transactions totaling over USD 2.5 billion. Fares was also instrumental in leading significant transactions, including the largest private Sukuk issuance at the time and structured Islamic development finance.
With over 20 years of experience as an investor and entrepreneur, Fares brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Sukna Capital's stakeholders, positioning the firm to meet the growing demand for innovative investment solutions across venture capital, private debt, real estate, and private equity.
Fares holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from King Abdulaziz University and is certified by the Capital Market Authority in Saudi Arabia. He also holds a certificate in Private Market and Alternative Investments from the CFA Institute, and is a Certified Corporate Banker from the American Academy of Financial Management, as well as a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) from PMI.
Hamzah Nassif is the COO of Sukna Capital, responsible for overseeing investment operations across the firm’s different strategies.
Hamzah brings over 17 years of experience that span technology and investments in North America and the Middle East. Prior to joining Sukna Capital, Hamzah was the Toronto-based Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s most active and prominent early stage venture capital firms, where he led investments in and worked closely with dozens of startups across different stages and in various sectors such as Fintech, Deeptech, SaaS, Ecommerce and Marketplaces.
An engineer at heart, Hamzah started his career in smartphone chip development at Qualcomm, later switching to the business side by complementing his BSc. Degree in Computer Engineering with an MBA in Strategy and Finance from his original Alma Mater, Purdue. He then was a co-founding team member at iMENA Group, a MENA-based venture builder that built, partnered with, and invested in online marketplace businesses across the region, playing various instrumental roles in the early stages of the their growth journeys.
Mr. Sukhdev Hansra is the Head of Asset Management at Sukna Capital, in charge of defining and overseeing the firm's investment strategy and asset management activities across its multiple strategies.
Sukhdev has 25 years’ experience working in finance, consulting and as an entrepreneur. He started work in London as a management consultant concentrating on IT, operations and business strategy. After his MBA, Sukhdev worked in investment banking, first in New York, then in London. He co-founded and ran a boutique advisory for 11 years in Dubai concentrating on new ventures and real estate development. Currently Sukhdev runs a portfolio of companies and is the co-founder of Amena Ventures Limited concentrating on new ventures in robotics and Internet of Things.
Sukhdev has helped start a number of companies in various sectors including education, healthcare, real estate, agriculture and textiles. He has worked with a number of entrepreneurs to coach and mentor the development of their businesses and develop business cases to help raise financing.
Sukhdev is a CFA charter holder, has an MBA with top honors from Columbia Business School, an MSc from The London School of Economics, dual BSc (Hons) degrees from Aston University and Oxford Brooks University, and an Advanced Diploma in Accounting from the ACCA.
Amr Bardeesi is the Fund Manager of Sukna Capital, where he leverages over a decade of expertise in asset management to shape fund strategies and drive portfolio growth. His strategic approach to financial planning and market analysis supports Sukna Capital’s commitment to informed investment decisions and long-term growth.
In his previous role as a Partner at SV Holding Company, Amr played an essential role in the creation and deployment of a $50 million VC fund. His extensive responsibilities included conducting market research, building financial models, managing portfolios, and engaging with investors. His efforts greatly contributed to the fund’s success in the regional VC market. Amr’s career also includes impactful positions at leading financial institutions such as Banque Saudi Fransi and SAMBA Financial Group, where he specialized in treasury operations, structured products, and enhancing investor relations.
Amr holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on finance from the University of Colorado, Denver, and is a CFA Level II candidate. His educational foundation and diverse experience equip him with the knowledge and skills to advance Sukna Capital’s investment portfolio through strategic insights and innovative solutions.
Mr. Tameem AlHassan is the Operations Manager at Sukna Capital, where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing fund operations and administration. Tameem has over 10 years of experience in investment operations, strategy development, and financial performance optimization.
Prior to his current role, he successfully supported the launch and deployment of a USD 50M MENA-focused VC fund. His expertise spans across investment assessments, legal due diligence, shareholder reporting, and fundraising activities.
Tameem’s career began in project management with Sukna Real Estate Development Company, where he managed construction projects exceeding USD 20M and conducted feasibility studies for projects valued at USD 2.5B. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University and has earned multiple certifications, including CME-1, Finance for Non-Finance Professionals from UCIx and VC Unlocked from 500 Global.
Mr. Mesum Ali is the Finance Director at Sukna Capital, bringing over 12 years of experience in accounting and finance. He is a Chartered Accountant with prestigious qualifications including ICAEW (UK), ACCA (UK), and CPA (Australia). Mesum also holds a degree from Oxford Brookes University (UK).
Throughout his career, Mesum has worked with leading organizations such as Mirza & Co Chartered Accountants, US Apparel and Textiles (US Group), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the National Incubation Centers (NICs), and The Carbone Clinic in Dubai and Europe. His expertise spans financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, international startup grants reporting, process improvement, and internal controls.
Mesum is committed to leveraging his extensive skill set in the dynamic financial sector of Saudi Arabia, helping Sukna Capital drive success through innovative financial strategies and impactful results.
Fahad Alnofaie is the Compliance Manager and Money Laundry Reporting Officer (MLRO) at Sukna Capital. He brings 9 years of experience in this field, having previously worked for several companies licensed by the the Saudi Capital Market Authority, such as East Bridge Capital, Blominvest Saudi Arabia Company, and Al-Nefaie Investment Group. Fahad holds an Advanced Certificate in Compliance and AML/CFT from the CMA and a Bachelor's degree in Economics - Money and Financial Institutions - from King Abdulaziz University.
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