MOHAMMED AFKHAMI
Mohammed started his career in 1996 at O'Connor & Associates, a derivatives trading house, based in Chicago where he traded currency and commodity options on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He remained with O'Connor as it was acquired by Swiss Bank Corporation and subsequently merged within UBS Warburg. He held various positions within the currency and commodities risk management groups covering corporates, hedge funds, and sovereign institutions. In 2000, Mohammed founded Silk Road Ventures, the first Turkey & Middle East focused technology incubator fund. In 2001, Mohammed joined Standard Bank as MENA Regional Head of Energy derivatives where he served until 2005. Currently, Mohammed is the Managing Director of MA Partners DMCC, a Mideast based commodities Derivatives consultancy and serves as an Advisor to several of the largest global alternative investment firms on capital placement. In addition, Mohammed is Senior Middle East Advisor to Mitsui Energy Risk Management, the energy derivatives arm of Mitsui Bussan Commodities, a wholly owned subsidiairy of Mitsui & Co.
Mohammed obtained his Bachelors degree in Economics with a concentration in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mohammed has also pursued post graduate studies in near eastern politics at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.