XII Cbonds Fixed Income Conference

Nikos Akkizidis is a visionary leader with more than three decades of experience in portfolio management, risk assessment, and financial analytics. His career spans senior...

Nikos Akkizidis is a visionary leader with more than three decades of experience in portfolio management, risk assessment, and financial analytics. His career spans senior roles as Head of Analysis, Head of Investment Advisory, Head of Dealing Room, Stock, Bond & Derivatives Trader, Executive Board Member, and COO at a leading brokerage in Athens, before advancing to regulatory and operational frameworks as a Compliance and AML Officer in Cyprus. Today, Nikos stands at the forefront of the intersection between AI, FinTech innovations, and digital assets and currencies, where technology and finance converge to reshape global economics and strategies. A frequent keynote speaker and long-time FXStreet contributor, he covers topics ranging from macroeconomics and markets to blockchain and tokenization. He brings clarity to complexity, offering practical insights into how financial innovation and digital assets are transforming the financial industry and creating new opportunities. Nikos is the author of the book: "Financial Economics, Strategic Risk & Investment Management, Undercover", which analyses the financial repression policies applied by policymakers worldwide and presents trading strategies and bond valuation explained through practical examples combined with mathematical functions. He is also completing his new book, "The Axiom to Discover Great Challenges, Risks, Opportunities", which outlines how to identify the true nature of today’s defining challenges in order to recognise, in time, the new normality and the ground of values shaping great risks and opportunities worldwide. He studied at top universities, including the London School of Economics and Cardiff University, and holds CySEC Advanced and AML certifications.

Bashar Al Natoor is a Managing Director and the Global Head of Fitch Ratings' Islamic Finance Group. He coordinates all Islamic Finance activities globally, centralizing...

Bashar Al Natoor is a Managing Director and the Global Head of Fitch Ratings' Islamic Finance Group. He coordinates all Islamic Finance activities globally, centralizing analytical and industry expertise. Mr. Al Natoor has more than 20 years of experience in the Islamic finance market. Since joining Fitch in 2007, he has overseen Sukuk criteria, conducted extensive research, and authored numerous articles. Before Fitch, he held key roles at the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and was a Senior Auditor at Arthur Andersen. He has received multiple recognitions and awards, including the Industry Leadership Award by The Asset and being named among the Top 100 Middle East Sustainability Voices by Gulf Intelligence. Under his leadership, Fitch has been named the Best Rating Agency for Islamic Finance for eight consecutive years by The Asset, received the Excellence Award in Islamic Financial Ratings for five consecutive years by GIFA, and was recognized by AlHuda for the first time. Mr. Al Natoor holds an MSc in Banking and Financial Studies from the Arab Academy for Finance and Banking Science and a BS in Finance and Banking from Amman University.

Aarthi Chandrasekaran is the Head of Public Markets at SHUAA Capital PSC, where she has led investment strategy since joining in August 2016. She brings...

Aarthi Chandrasekaran is the Head of Public Markets at SHUAA Capital PSC, where she has led investment strategy since joining in August 2016. She brings nearly two decades of experience in public markets, with over a decade spent at leading regional and international institutions including NBK and Deutsche Bank. A trained macroeconomist, Aarthi specializes in building and managing multi-asset portfolios with a focus on equities and fixed income, leveraging thematic and growth-oriented strategies across regional and global markets.

Joydeb joined Lighthouse Canton in 2020 as Vice President- Fixed Income Selections and Investment Counselling. Based in Dubai, Joydeb’ s focus is on enhancing and...

Joydeb joined Lighthouse Canton in 2020 as Vice President- Fixed Income Selections and Investment Counselling. Based in Dubai, Joydeb’ s focus is on enhancing and strengthening the Fixed Income proposition as well as monitoring key portfolios, recommending investment opportunities and adopting risk mitigation strategies for clients of Lighthouse Canton. With over 22 years of experience in the financial services industry, Joydeb ‘s domain expertise is Wealth Management/Investment advisory. His strong understanding of global financial markets and client requirements at the same time gives us a unique perspective to delivery of solutions for clients. Prior to Lighthouse Canton, Joydeb worked in esteemed institutions like Bank J Safra Sarasin, Citibank and HSBC to name a few. Joydeb holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Finance Specialization) and is also a CFA charter holder.

Xenia Dmitrieva joined Cbonds in 2021 as an International Support Manager. Having graduated from the Humanities Institute with a Linguistics Degree, she learnt different languages...

Xenia Dmitrieva joined Cbonds in 2021 as an International Support Manager. Having graduated from the Humanities Institute with a Linguistics Degree, she learnt different languages as well as studied business communication. For years, having worked with the current client base, Xenia has learnt a large number of use cases and helped to meet challenges of banks, asset management teams, family offices, risk assessment companies, and private investors. Since January 2024, Ms. Dmitrieva has been working as an International Business Developer with a key role to build international partnerships and achieve win-win goals.

Friedhelm Schmitt is a renowned German technology entrepreneur and the Founder & Co-CEO of Fincite, a leading WealthTech software provider. With an academic background in...

Friedhelm Schmitt is a renowned German technology entrepreneur and the Founder & Co-CEO of Fincite, a leading WealthTech software provider. With an academic background in quantitative finance, Friedhelm previously worked at asset management and hedge fund firms before founding Fincite, which empowers financial institutions with innovative digital solutions for portfolio and asset management. Under his leadership, Fincite has been recognized for its growth and innovation, earning accolades such as the WealthTech100 2025, ESGFintech100 2025, and Fintech Germany Award 2024. The company serves top-tier banks in private & retail banking, enabling them to launch cutting-edge digital investment applications for their clients and advisors. A sought-after keynote speaker, Friedhelm shares insights on topics including digital asset management, AI in banking, agile transformation, and sustainability through technology. He has spoken at prestigious events such as Finovate (London), Handelsblatt Banking Technology Forum (Frankfurt), and the Think Forward Initiative (Amsterdam). His engaging presentations combine practical experience with strategic vision, making him a respected voice in fintech and digital finance.

Robert Hahm is the Founder and CEO of Algorada, an AI-powered investment research platform delivering data-driven insights into fixed income markets. He brings over 25...

Robert Hahm is the Founder and CEO of Algorada, an AI-powered investment research platform delivering data-driven insights into fixed income markets. He brings over 25 years of experience in emerging market debt, Sukuk, credit, and portfolio construction, with deep expertise in both conventional and Shariah-compliant strategies. Robert spent 13 years at Mashreq Capital (DIFC), serving as CEO and Head of Asset Management for over seven of those years. Under his leadership, the firm was recognized among Forbes Middle East’s Top 30 Asset Managers. He began his career in the treasury of Dresdner Bank Lateinamerica AG, managing emerging market debt, and later held roles in market risk before joining a founding team to establish a brokerage startup. Robert holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Hamburg and is a CFA charterholder. At Algorada, he now leads efforts to automate credit research and empower bond investors with scalable, AI-driven analytics.

Khalid Howladar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Acreditus, MEA advisory firm that specializes in a mix of credit, digital assets and Islamic Finance...

Khalid Howladar is the Founder and Managing Partner of Acreditus, MEA advisory firm that specializes in a mix of credit, digital assets and Islamic Finance advisory for institutional and sovereign clients. More recently he has become active in the Development Finance space promoting their participation in various technology related initiatives. As a passionate Venture Angel, he has invested in 15+ (now blockchain/web3/AI) startups and is an Executive in Residence for Global Digital Finance, an industry association advocating and accelerating the adoption of best practices for digital assets. Khalid gained institutional prominence from his 16 years at Moody’s Investor’s Service in London and Dubai culminating as both Global Head – Islamic Finance and Head of the Middle East banking as well as various roles in structured credit, securitization and sovereign ratings teams.

Amit Jain, VP, is a research analyst and portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income in Dubai, UAE. Mr. Jain is responsible for both the...

Amit Jain, VP, is a research analyst and portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income in Dubai, UAE. Mr. Jain is responsible for both the portfolio management of several accounts as well as conducting research on credits from the Global Sukuk and MENA universe. Mr. Jain has over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to his current role, Mr. Jain was a credit analyst for SJS Markets. He also was previously with Sutherland Global Services and HSBC. Mr. Jain holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Delhi University, a master of science in finance from ICFAI University, and MBA from Indian School of Business.

Krishnakumar Kulanghat is a highly accomplished Treasury & Investments professional with over 20 years of experience, including more than 18 years in the banking sector....

Krishnakumar Kulanghat is a highly accomplished Treasury & Investments professional with over 20 years of experience, including more than 18 years in the banking sector. As the Assistant General Manager of the Treasury & Investment Division at Commercial Bank of Kuwait, he is responsible for leading all trading desks, which include Money Market, Repo, Equity & Fixed Income Investments, FX, Derivatives, and Corporate Sales. A key achievement in his career is transforming the Treasury from a cost center into a significant profit center for the bank. He also established and manages a proprietary Fixed Income portfolio with a value of nearly $2 billion. Krishnakumar is known for his skill in optimizing the bank's balance sheet to enhance profitability while maintaining strong liquidity position. Key professional milestones and achievements include: * Establishing a Multi-Tranche Subordinated Bond issuance program in KWD, which successfully raised KWD 100 million in T2 Basel III compliance capital funding. * Creating a Repo desk to raise long-term financing, which has secured over $1.5 billion in funding. * Managing a team responsible for more than 55% of the bank's total liabilities. * Successfully concluding several bilateral and syndication loans (borrowing side) for the bank. Krishnakumar holds a Master of Science in Financial Management from Boston University and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from the University of Calicut. He is proficient in regulatory ratios such as LCR and NSFR, and has expertise in Asset & Liability Management (ALM) and Fixed Income Portfolio Management.

Graduating from the University of Genoa in 2014 in Modern Language and Culture, and going on to gain a Master’s in Translation and Interpretation in...

Graduating from the University of Genoa in 2014 in Modern Language and Culture, and going on to gain a Master’s in Translation and Interpretation in 2016, Alessandro Lombardo gained experience in international relations through managing the reports of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) between 2012 and 2017, for the members from Central and Eastern Europe. In September 2017 he began his collaboration with Cbonds, a company providing an online bond research and analysis platform. In August 2018 he was appointed head of the company’s international department.

Vijay Prakash Rai is a dynamic business leader with over two decades of experience driving growth, transformation, and innovation across global financial markets and technology...

Vijay Prakash Rai is a dynamic business leader with over two decades of experience driving growth, transformation, and innovation across global financial markets and technology sectors. He has held senior leadership roles at Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, NSE Cogencis, and News Corp group, and currently leads Business Development & Partnerships at Agrud Technologies. With deep expertise in enterprise sales, and market intelligence solutions, Vijay has a proven track record of executing complex CXO-level engagements, scaling businesses, and mentoring high-performing teams. As the founder of Ufinity Ventures, he has also guided startups in fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and knowledge-driven growth. An MBA in Finance & Marketing, Vijay blends strategic foresight with entrepreneurial thinking, making him a trusted partner for organizations navigating digital transformation and revenue acceleration

Amol Shitole heads the Fixed Income business at Mashreq Capital, managing over a billion dollars across MENA and global emerging market strategies. Amol is responsible...

Amol Shitole heads the Fixed Income business at Mashreq Capital, managing over a billion dollars across MENA and global emerging market strategies. Amol is responsible for investment strategy, research, portfolio construction, and active management across both conventional and Sharia-compliant mandates. His portfolio includes award-winning public funds such as the Mashreq Al Islami Income Fund (Global Sukuk), the Mashreq MENA Fixed Income Fund, and the Mashreq Global Emerging Markets Bond Fund, alongside bespoke discretionary mandates. With nearly two decades of experience in credit markets across buy side, sell side, and rating agency roles at global institutions including S&P, HSBC, and Société Générale, Amol brings a holistic and disciplined approach to EM credit investing, with a strong focus on active risk. Amol is a CFA Charterholder with a background in finance and engineering from India leading a high-performing team of four, including two portfolio managers and two analysts.

Ahmad Wahid is the Capital Markets Editor of the region’s leading morning business briefing - EnterpriseAM - where he covers the business and finance stories...

Ahmad Wahid is the Capital Markets Editor of the region’s leading morning business briefing - EnterpriseAM - where he covers the business and finance stories shaping the MENA region. He focuses on everything from equity and debt offerings to major deal activity, breaking down the data and trends that matter to investors and decision-makers. Before diving into journalism, Ahmad spent seven years as an economist at Egypt’s Ministry of Finance, working closely on macroeconomic policy and fiscal strategy. Today, he brings that experience to his reporting - connecting the dots between policy, markets, and real-world impact.

Natalia Lopez has been leading Cbonds API since 2017, driving its growth into the company’s core product. She joined Cbonds in 2013 as International Partnership...

Natalia Lopez has been leading Cbonds API since 2017, driving its growth into the company’s core product. She joined Cbonds in 2013 as International Partnership Manager, later becoming Head of International Sales before taking on her current role. After Cbonds API gained recognition among fintech companies, Natalia’s next step is developing solutions together with clients in the field of AI. She holds a Master’s degree in Management of Organizations and completed an EMBA program in 2019.