Who we are
We are a group of specialized asset managers in Microfinance and SME Impact Investments located in Geneva with more than a decade leading experience in the industry.
Vincent Dufresne, Director.
Prior to co-founding Symbiotics, he co-founded Infobahn SA and Qlik.ch Sàrl. Infobahn is an internet software development company with a solid experience in microfinance, notably with UNCTAD, CGAP/World Bank, the MIX Market and BlueOrchard Finance. He also worked as a banking auditor at Arthur Andersen for three years. Vincent holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of St-Gallen (lic. oec. HSG) and has passed the CFA Level II exam.
Christophe Favre, Senior Manager.
Prior to joining Symbiotics in 2010, Christophe worked for sixteen years for UBS in Lausanne, Geneva, Zurich and in New York in different positions ranging from credit and recovery management, risk management and structured lending to client-facing activities in the Sub-Saharan African market. Christophe holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business and a bachelor's degree in business economics from the University of Applied Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mariano Larena, Senior Manager.
Mariano is an experienced banker with over 20 years of experience working with financial institutions. Before joining the Symbiotics in 2010, he worked for two years as an independent microfinance and SME consultant. He also worked for six years as a regional coordinator for Latin America at ProCredit Holding. Before this, he held various other positions including senior manager and risk and credit officer within commercial banks such as Euro Hypo and Banco Santander. Mariano holds a law degree from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain and is a member of the Madrid Chamber of Lawyers.
Nadja Zgraggen, Technical Assistance Program Manager.
Before joining Symbiotics in 2010, Nadja worked in several microfinance banks across Africa and Eastern Europe, holding different positions including senior management positions in Tanzania and Liberia. More recently, she provided Technical Assistance advisory services to MFIs across Sub Saharan Africa for the Microfinance Program at the IFC in Johannesburg. Nadja holds an MBA from the University of St. Gallen and master's of advanced studies for Development Cooperation from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
Petra Zeier, Junior Investment Manager.
Prior to joining Symbiotics in 2010, Petra completed a Graduate Trainee Program at Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re) with assignments in the product development and property underwriting departments. Petra also participated in a client research study carried out by a microfinance network in Honduras. Petra holds a joint master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the Graduate Institute of International Studies (IHEID) in Geneva.