STV, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region’s largest venture capital fund, announced that Luca Barbi has joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Mr. Barbi will further scale and institutionalize STV’s organizational capabilities in identification, backing, and scaling of the region’s most exciting and disruptive technology companies.
Mr. Barbi brings over 15 years of experience in management consulting and transaction services, advising organizations across Europe and the Middle East on a range of sectors including technology and investment advisory for Sovereign Wealth Funds, Private Equity Funds and Family Offices.
Prior to joining STV, Mr. Barbi was a core member of the Corporate Development and Consumer Goods practices at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where he gained extensive experience in investment strategy, business due diligence, governance and value creation planning. He was also Chief Operating Officer of Tiger Hill Capital, a business building and investment company based in Europe.
As Project Leader and Principal at BCG’s Middle East headquarters, Mr. Barbi was instrumental in developing strategies and business plans for new digital players and eCommerce platforms in the region.
Commenting on the appointment, Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, STV’s CEO, said: “Luca’s extensive experience in working with some of the leading digital and financial players in the region, will be a tremendous asset for STV. As we work to create scale and deliver impact and returns, Luca’s deep consulting and operational expertise will strongly complement the investment, entrepreneurial and technology capabilities at the firm. This is yet another exciting addition to STV’s multi-disciplinary team, allowing us to continue to provide value-added support to the entrepreneurs and companies we back.”
Commenting on his new role, Mr. Barbi added: “For over a decade, my objective has always been to work with organizations that are helping the Middle East achieve its full potential and that’s why I am so excited to be joining STV. I had an immediate click when I met the STV team and was drawn into their vision and unique culture. The economic reforms and wider developments of this region represent an extremely compelling and unique investment opportunity. At the same time, realizing this value requires stamina, creativity, discipline and intellectual rigor.”
As COO, Mr. Barbi will focus on organizational enablement and operational excellence, including proactive stakeholder engagement and governance support, as well as driving internal firm growth and capability building initiatives. Moreover, Mr. Barbi will drive continuous development of the firm’s investment strategy and portfolio plans, including researching and incorporating emerging global and regional trends in the face of the dynamic ecosystem in which STV operates.
Mr. Barbi holds an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, a master’s in Merchant Banking from LIUC University in Italy and a BA in Finance and Economics from Bologna University in Italy.