BIOGRAPHY

As a seasoned investment banker and entrepreneur, I've had the privilege of managing in excess of $2 billion in private and public assets throughout my career.

I've had the opportunity to advise some of the most influential leaders in the Kyrgyz government, including the President and Minister of Finance, on important policy issues such as privatization, pension system reform, and monetary and fiscal policy.

My contributions as an executive and board member of AsiaUniversalBank from 2002 to 2010 were instrumental in making it the largest commercial bank in Kyrgyzstan by assets. I've helped raise over $30 million in financing in the West and established relationships with major financial institutions like Citigroup, American Express Bank, Credit Suisse, and OPIC. I'm particularly proud of having successfully recruited former US senators Robert Dole and J. Bennett Johnston to join our Board of Directors.

​

In 201, 2012, and beyond as a part of a cooperation agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and a government witness for Italy, I assisted the U.S. government, the Italian government, and other enforcement agencies (including in an undercover capacity), to bring down and prosecute several criminal conspiracies. In 2019, I was instrumental in helping the US government return embezzled funds to the Kyrgyz Republic.

​

In 2014, I was sentenced as a part of a plea agreement, and served a 63-month sentence at Federal Prison Camp Montgomery, returning home in 2019.

​

The extensively documented story of my legal challenges and re-emergence as a vibrant executive, consultant, and media personality can be found in the Press section as well as in Philip Shishkin's book.

​

I'm passionate about working with startups and emerging companies. As a consultant, I've helped companies like Farafina SARL, a junior gold mining company, and an innovative fintech startup in the UK with their investor relations and digital content strategies. Additionally, I was able to help secure Round A financing for Vector Vitale, a life sciences company with a groundbreaking therapeutics portfolio.

​