Our Team
Meet the experienced professionals driving net zero-emission investments along the Silk Road. Our team combines deep industry expertise with cross-border M&A experience.
Co-Founders | Executive Committee
Jan Goesaert
Co-Founder | Executive Committee
Has a long and broad experience in international cross border M&A and fund raising, related strategic consulting for both corporates and SME as well as operational experience as CEO, CFO and COO. He was amongst other a Senior Vice President and Exco Member for Agfa's Healthcare, Managing Partner for EY's Corporate Finance and Geschäftsführer of Rameder, Europe's largest Tow Bar distributor. Further CEO in the service packaging industry, as well as Executive Director in a family held private equity fund. Multilingual with NL/FR/EN/DE. Sector experience includes Healthcare, IT, Automotive (IAM), Packaging and Financial and Consulting services.
Peter Buytaert
Co-Founder | Executive Committee
Builds on thirty years of cross-cultural leadership of which half in corporate and half as entrepreneur. After his studies in Belgium (law, engineering and business management), he lived 25 years successively in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Shanghai. He founded GLO (Good Leaders Online), a fully online executive search and mentoring platform, as well as CGL Management Consulting, which has assisted more than 50 SME in their startup of China. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Peter was President Agfa Graphics Asia and Chairman of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
Partners
Yves Leterme
Senior Partner
Was Prime Minister of Belgium (2008-2011) and Minister-President of Flanders (2004-2007). During his term he ensured the rotating Presidency of the European Union. In his political career he held numerous elected positions at all levels of governance including Party President, Group Leader in the House of Representatives, Senator, Alderman. After leaving Belgian politics, he served as Deputy Secretary General of the OECD (Paris, FR) and as Secretary General of International IDEA (Stockholm, SE). In the private sector he has held positions in the Board of Directors at TeleColumbus AG (Berlin, DE), the Global Sustainability Council of Volkswagen AG (Wolfsburg, DE) and mandated Chief Investigator for Financial Fair Play at UEFA (Nyon, CH). He is presently a Belgian State Minister, Board Member of the World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid, Trustee of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, member of the Astana Club etc.
Daniël de Blocq van Scheltinga
Managing Partner
Is founder of Polarwide and based in Hong Kong. He was formerly Head of Chemical Sector Advisory in Asia Pacific from 2001 to 2006 and Head of Asset Based Finance in Asia between 2006 and 2008 at ABN AMRO. In 2008 he became the founding CEO of ChemChina Finance Co. with responsibility for centralising the capital management and acquisition strategy of more than 460 subsidiaries for the group. In doing so, he became the first non-PRC citizen to manage the finance arm of a State-Owned Enterprise in China. Regular speaker at chemical conferences across Asia and advisor on China related matters.
Werner Vanderhaeghe
General Counsel
Is one of Belgium's most senior international business lawyers and a director of companies with broad experience in domestic and international business transactions, complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration, corporate governance and compliance. During the past 45 years, he has advised clients both as a private practitioner in Brussels with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and with White & Case, where he was a Partner, and as General Counsel of the Bekaert Group and the Agfa-Gevaert Group. Werner has represented clients and advised on transactions throughout Europe and in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
Strategic Partners
Mustafa al Sehli
Strategic Advisor, Middle East
Saudi Arabian and British national. Educated at University of San Diego (Political Science and International Relations). 30+ years advising companies and leaders globally on strategy, especially Middle East. Advised royal families of Kuwait, Oman, KSA, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaimah and Dubai. Advises government of Japan and several African governments. Partner in House of Börse.
Chris Xiao Ma
Strategic Partner, China
40 years experience in China, USA and internationally as C-level executive in semiconductor, chemical, renewable energy, automotive and steel. Worked for Philips, Air Liquide, Bekaert. Hands-on experience in managing companies, JVs in China, M&A projects and Sustainability. Graduated from Fu Dan University, diploma from INSEAD.
Vincent Lui
Strategic Partner, Hong Kong
HK Chinese bridging Western investors to Asia and vice versa. Graduated from UK universities. Working in HK and mainland China in automotive to electronics, precision metal and plastic. Former Asia head of German automotive cable harness company LEONI and global management board member. Experience in JV establishment, operating and M&A projects in China.
Dr. Patrick Allman-Ward
Strategic Partner, Energy & Mining
40+ years in oil and gas industry. Started at Shell in 1982, became VP Exploration Asia-Pacific, CEO South Rub Al Khali Company, VP New Business Development Saudi Arabia. Joined Dana Gas 2012 as General and Country Manager Egypt, then CEO Dana Gas Group 2013-2024. Currently holds two NED roles in energy and mining industries.
Svein Nodland
Norwegian senior executive, Oil and Gas
40+ years in Oil and Gas. Experience with Dolphin Drilling, Fred. Olsen Energy, Mermaid Drilling Ltd, Ocean Rig, Kencana, Romco Group. Expertise in Oil Service, Tech and Energy Transition Segments. Board advisor and member for companies in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Guy Hallet
Senior advisor specialised in relations with China
Special advisor to former Belgian Minister for Economy and Foreign Trade. Organizer of over forty Belgian (royal) missions to China. Advisor to Municipality Government of Yangzhou as official representative in Europe 2000-2015.
Our Growing Ranks of Wise Consultants
Peter Wilde
Wise Consultant (DE)
SGL Carbon, BMW. 6 sigma black Belt Energy Systems, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Batteries, Supercaps
Ken Salter
Wise Consultant (PH/AU)
30+ years of Asia wide automotive and Lighting industry experience, scaling and restructuring for sustainability
Lothar Schuh
Wise Consultant (DE)
ABB, Technology transfer, acquisition of energy optimization projects, BD Fuel cells applic., Hydrogen, clean tech
Stephane Odasso
Wise Consultant (FR)
Tech Institute Tokyo, start-up & hydrogen consultancy, Inst. Avarap, Hydrogen, Advanced Materials, nano technology
Felicity Tann
Wise Consultant (SG)
Healthcare and IT experience, presently focus on VC funding and IT, Renewables, Green Energy and HC start-ups
Frank Schulz
Wise Consultant (DE)
Marubeni Energy DE/EU. Solar, Hydrogen, Recycling, Renewable energy, energy transition, decarbonisation, JV's
Johannes De Groot
Wise Consultant (IT)
+25 years exec. Operations experience in Hi-tech and product development in EU and silicon valley semi con companies.
Thierry Gaudet
Wise Consultant (FR)
+35 years of international supply chain, ERP systems and operational management experience, EU and Asia
International Advisory Board
Dr. Martin Hinoul
Honorary Advisory Board Member
Has a doctorate and post doctorate in physics and a postgraduate business degree from KU Leuven. He has also done research at Stanford University, M.I.T. and at several other laboratories in Europe, the U.S. and Japan. He was closely involved in the Bell Telephone expansion into China and the development of the System 12 digital switch. He was also a technology attaché for the Belgian government in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. He then became business development manager for R&D at KU Leuven, with an interruption of 3 years as chief of staff of the Flemish Minister of Economy. He is now an independent consultant to governments and companies, giving many international lectures and a prolific writer, among others.
Andrew K.P. Leung, SBS, FRSA
Chairman, Andrew Leung International Consultants Ltd.
38-year career in senior government positions in Hong Kong. Last post was Hong Kong's chief representative for the UK and 10 other EU member states, plus Russia, Norway and Switzerland. Degrees from University of London, Cambridge University, PMD from Harvard Business School. Member of several think-tanks.
Prof. Dr. Vincent Yip
Advisor at Cambridge Learning Gateway
Instructor at Stanford Continuing Studies, Adjunct Professor at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore). Former Visiting Professor at Kellogg School of Business. Founding Executive Director of Singapore's Kent Ridge Science Park, Deputy Ambassador to the EC and the Vatican. PhD (Materials Science) from USC, MBA (International Business).
Patrick Nijs
Former Belgian Ambassador to China
Belgian Head of Mission in Osaka, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Director General for Consular Affairs 2007-2009. Resides in Yunnan. Co-founded EUCJIC in 2017. Guest Professor at Zhejiang University of Technology since 2022.
Karel Bos
CEO of Bosal group
Third generation family business. Roles in plant management, supply chain, operations, R&D across USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands. Focus on high temperature heat exchange systems and reformers for Fuel Cells, Electrolysers, Microturbines. Economist from KULeuven, MBA from Boston University.
Prof. Jay Mitra
Professor of Business Enterprise and Innovation
Director of Venture Academy at Essex Business School, University of Essex. Visiting Scholar at Luneburg University. Fellow of Royal Society of Arts. Board member of INSME. Leads International Entrepreneurship Forum. Scientific Adviser to OECD.
Elco van Grootenhuis van Onstein
Dutch entrepreneurial CEO and M&A consultant
30 years international experience. Former CEO/VP of Allibert/Keter Europe and SVP of Huhtamäki and Ziegler Logistics. MSc from Technical University of Delft, MBA from EMLyon Business School. Winner of Worldstar for Packaging.
Prof. Alan Barrell, DBA, FRSA
Chairman of Cambridge Learning Gateway
Experience in Health Care and Medical Research as Chairman and CEO. Teaches at universities in UK, Europe, North America and Asia. Honoured with The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. Knight First Class of Order of White Rose of Finland.
Raf Decaluwé
Independent consultant on strategy
Strategy formulation and implementation since 2002. Former CEO and Board member of Bekaert Group 1994-2002. General Manager of BU Steelcord 1991. Corporate Vice-President Finance 1986. Commercial engineer from KULeuven, MBA from University of Chicago.
Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri
Futurist, thought leader, author
Veteran of UAE technology industry. Founder and former Director General of Emirates ID Authority. Director of Center for Futures Studies at University of Dubai. Adjunct lecturer at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University 1994.
Want to Work with Our Team?
Get in touch with us to discuss how we can help your organization achieve its net zero-emission goals along the Silk Road.