More than 150 years of relevant experience
Dr Slim Feriani,
Partner & CEO
Dr. Slim Feriani is a pioneer in emerging and frontier markets investing with over 35 years of global experience across investment management, sovereign wealth leadership, and government.
He most recently served as CEO of the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Djibouti (2021–April 2025) and Chairman of Djibouti Telecom (2022–April 2025). During his tenure, he also founded and served as President of IncluFin, Djibouti’s first crowdfunding fintech platform, pioneering digital finance and financial inclusion in the Horn of Africa. Prior to this, he was Minister of Industry, Energy, Mining, Renewable Energy and SMEs in Tunisia (2017–2020), where he was the longest-serving minister in that portfolio post-2011.
Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles in London-based investment banking and asset management, including at Nomura International, Martin Currie Investment Management (now part of Franklin Templeton), Advance Emerging Capital (acquired by Aberdeen Asset Management), and GCA Asset Management (which evolved into Gulf Central Merchant Bank). His roles included CIO, CEO, Chairman and board directorships in both listed and private companies.
As CEO & CIO of Advance Emerging Capital, he built a multi-strategy institutional platform spanning emerging and frontier markets and, in 2007, launched the first institutional frontier markets funds listed in London — well ahead of broader market recognition of the asset class.
In 1998, he co-founded the Mediterranean School of Business (MSB) in Tunis — the first English-language, U.S.-style business school in Tunisia — and later contributed to the development of the South Mediterranean University (SMU), helping establish one of the region’s leading private higher education institutions.
Dr. Feriani holds an MBA and a Ph.D. in Finance, Investment and International Finance from The George Washington University, where he also taught for seven years and later served on the School of Business Board of Advisors. He is fluent in English, French and Arabic and is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Tunisia.
Jean-André Dja Gbarssin
Partner & CIO
Jean-André Dja Gbarssin is a seasoned alternative investment professional with over 15 years of experience across private equity, private debt and fund-of-funds investing, with a strong focus on Africa and emerging markets.
He has held investment roles at leading institutions including British International Investment (BII), Morgan Stanley, Tandem Expansion and HealthCap, developing deep expertise in direct investing, fund selection, portfolio construction and institutional capital allocation across growth and impact strategies.
From 2021 to 2025, he served as Chief Investment Officer of the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Djibouti, where he established institutional-grade investment frameworks, capital allocation methodologies and governance processes aligned with international private equity standards. He oversaw a diversified portfolio of state-owned enterprises valued at over $1 billion and led strategic restructuring and value-creation initiatives across key assets.
At Alternative Path Partners, he leads investment strategy, portfolio construction and risk management across public and private markets.
Jean-André holds an MBA from INSEAD, an LL.B from McGill University and a B.Com from Concordia University. He is fluent in English and French and is a citizen of France, Canada and the Central African Republic.
Laurent Smolen
Partner
Laurent Smolen is an entrepreneur and regulated investment executive with over 25 years of experience in asset management, fund structuring and multi-asset allocation across collective investment vehicles and discretionary mandates.
A seasoned multi-manager within the Crédit Mutuel–CIC group, he joined O Capital in 2008 to lead its Luxembourg-based investment platform serving high-net-worth and institutional clients. He played a key role in structuring regulated investment vehicles and multi-asset solutions across European and African markets.
He is co-founder of regulated investment platforms in Luxembourg and has served as director of multiple investment funds. As a regulated executive (“dirigeant agréé”), he has overseen governance, compliance and investment committee processes within institutional frameworks.
He has led a multi-asset Africa strategy spanning corporate and sovereign debt, listed and private equity, delivering steady and resilient performance since inception in 2021.
Laurent is a graduate of the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies (Economics & Finance) and holds a Master’s degree in Management. He is a French citizen.
Richard Goldstein
Partner
Richard brings over 40 years of experience in capital raising and institutional relationship management across investment management and philanthropic organizations.
He has held senior leadership roles in fundraising and investor relations across North America, working extensively with high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional investors. In the investment management sector, he served as Head of Marketing and Investor Relations at Havens Advisors, a global event-driven hedge fund, where he helped grow assets to over $500 million across clients in the United States, Europe and Asia. He later held a similar role at UAS Asset Management.
Prior to joining Alternative Path Partners, Richard was Head of Development and Alumni Relations at the George Washington University School of Business, where he built strategic donor relationships and institutional partnerships.
He serves as a board member of Regen RBR, a sustainable materials company focused on advanced rubber recycling technologies.
Richard holds a BA from The George Washington University and a Master’s degree from Temple University. He is a US citizen.