Legal Advisor & Compliance Officer
Daniel Cruise is a Partner at Tikehau Capital, a global alternative asset management firm with €40 billion in assets under management. With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Cruise has established himself as a trusted advisor to business leaders and high-growth companies across sectors such as business intelligence, fintech, autonomous driving, and climate technology. His expertise in strategic communications, business development, and international relations has been pivotal in helping companies scale their operations and achieve sustained success.
Prior to joining Tikehau, Mr. Cruise served as the Chief Public Affairs Officer at JUUL Labs, where he played a key role in shaping the company’s public relations strategy, focusing on innovative alternatives for adult smokers. He also held senior leadership positions at Arconic (formerly Alcoa), overseeing public and government affairs for the company’s European and Asia-Pacific operations. Earlier in his career, as a Managing Director at Albright Stonebridge Group, Mr. Cruise provided strategic guidance to major corporations navigating complex global markets.
Mr. Cruise began his career in the public sector, serving as Assistant Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs under President Clinton and as Director of Public Affairs for the National Security Council. He also held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he advanced U.S. exports and promoted international trade as the Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration.
Mr. Cruise holds a B.A. in International Relations from Brown University and an M.Phil. in International Affairs from the University of Cambridge. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum. He remains actively engaged in global affairs and serves on the boards of several organizations dedicated to education and international cooperation.
Steve Shenfeld is a seasoned investment executive with decades of experience across credit, distressed debt, and structured finance. He currently serves as Chairman of MidOcean Credit Partners, where he leads investment strategy and chairs both the Investment and Risk committees.
Prior to joining MidOcean, Steve co-founded MD Sass Macquarie Financial Strategies, where he directed all origination, investment, and acquisition structuring activities. Earlier in his career, he was a General Partner at Avenue Capital Group, specializing in distressed debt, special situations, and event-driven credit.
Steve has also held senior leadership positions at major financial institutions, including Managing Director and Group Head of Debt and Capital Markets at Banc Boston, and Partner at Bankers Trust, where he oversaw global capital markets sales and trading. His expertise spans high-yield, distressed credit, leveraged finance, and credit derivatives.
He began his career in 1983 as a high-yield trader at Salomon Brothers and later at Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette. Steve holds a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan Business School.
Dr. Samer Haj-Yehia is a distinguished economist, legal expert, and corporate leader with a global track record in finance, governance, and innovation. He served as Executive Chairman of Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank, where he led a comprehensive transformation that enhanced profitability, efficiency, and technological advancement.
Currently, Dr. Haj-Yehia is the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Nevo Investment and ExBorder Partners. He also serves as Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Board at Vintage Investment Partners and sits on the board of directors at Lemonade Inc. Additionally, he is Of Counsel at Herzog, a leading Israeli law firm.
Dr. Haj-Yehia holds a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT and multiple degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, including an MBA (summa cum laude), LLB in Law, MA in Economics (magna cum laude), and a BA in Accounting (magna cum laude). He is admitted to the Israeli Bar and is a CFA charterholder.
Boaz Rahav is a serial entrepreneur with a deep track record in developing platforms that enhance government procurement efficiency through precision-targeted solutions. His work has focused on bridging technology with public sector needs to streamline the acquisition of critical parts and equipment.
He previously served as Chief Economist for Israel’s Ministry of Finance, where he advised on national fiscal policy and economic strategy. In the private sector, Boaz held senior leadership roles, including Managing Director and Head of Global Private Equity Markets at Oppenheimer & Co. and Knight Capital.
Boaz is the co-founder of several successful ventures, including Cherre, Inc., Pigeon Platform, Inc., Greencrest Capital, and the AMIDEX Funds. Across these ventures, he has combined data-driven insight with strategic capital deployment to drive growth and innovation.
He currently serves as a board member, investor, and advisor to financial and technology companies, and is a member of the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) School of Management Executive Council. His leadership reflects a unique blend of public and private sector expertise with a strong emphasis on market intelligence and execution.
Maurice Dabbah is a Swiss-born entrepreneur with a notable presence in the international business world. Mr. Dabbah has established himself as a gifted business leader, with a career spanning over 25 years in various sectors including real estate, technology, and finance.
A key figure in international real estate investment, Mr. Dabbah has a substantial portfolio that includes properties in New York and Europe. He is a founding partner of Empire Resorts Inc, known for developing the Monticello Casino & Raceway. His business acumen extends beyond real estate, encompassing diverse industries, where he has consistently demonstrated the ability to identify and capitalize on lucrative opportunities.
Aside from his professional pursuits, Mr. Dabbah is also recognized for his philanthropic efforts. He has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives, focusing on areas such as education, healthcare, and community development, showcasing his commitment to making a positive societal impact.
Mr. Dabbah’s story is one of a visionary entrepreneur who has left a significant mark in the business world through his strategic investments and philanthropic endeavors. His journey reflects a commitment to innovation, excellence, and social responsibility, making him an inspiring figure in global business and philanthropy.
Stuart Sundlun has established a dynamic and varied presence in the financial industry, navigating through an array of roles that span both the U.S. and international markets. As the current President of Knollwood Capital LLC, he provides strategic advice and business development solutions to emerging growth companies and investment funds. Additionally, he holds the position of Head of the Office of the Chairman for a U.S. corporation, where he has adeptly orchestrated joint ventures with premier electric commercial vehicle manufacturers in Asia, paving the way for a prospective listing on the U.S. stock exchange. His proficiency in finance is further demonstrated in his capacity as a Venture Partner at Broadline Capital, a global private equity firm.
In his past ventures, Stuart served as a Strategic Advisor to Pine Creek Holdings, where he directed the development of natural gas plants aimed at converting methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills into usable energy throughout the United States.
Previously, he held the role of Vice Chairman at BMB Advisors, where he specialized in structuring private equity investments on a global scale. His entrepreneurial drive was evident when he co-founded the Dignity Fund LP, a venture that facilitated microfinance lending in twelve countries. His earlier career includes his time as a Managing Director at Global Emerging Markets, where he focused on structuring equity investments in burgeoning global public companies. In the mid-1990s, he was instrumental in financing real estate and energy projects in Russia, in collaboration with Western strategic partners. His early forays into finance were with Lehman Brothers as an Associate in investment banking, after starting his professional journey at Chase Bank, where he moved from Credit Analyst to Mexican Liaison Officer.
Stuart is an alumnus of Harvard University, where he graduated cum laude with an A.B. in government, and he holds an MBA in Finance from the Columbia Graduate School of Business. Post-Harvard, he was a Rotary Fellow at La Universidad Pontificia Catolica in Lima, Peru. During that time, he also dedicated himself as a Special Assistant to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Alejandro Orfila.
With a career spanning over three decades in asset management, Jim Walker has established himself as a seasoned leader in the field, holding various influential roles throughout his distinguished professional journey. He recently resumed his position at Black Diamond Capital Management, a company he co-founded in 1996, where he serves as President and Senior Managing Director. In addition to his primary role, Mr. Walker is an active board member for various organizations, including Starwood REIT, Clarus Corp, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., and Emeco Group. He also contributes his expertise as a Strategic Partner at Jadian Capital, a private equity firm specializing in real estate investments.
Between 2008 and 2017, Mr. Walker played a pivotal role at Fir Tree Partners, a globally recognized alternative asset management firm. As a Managing Partner, he was integral in expanding the firm’s assets under management from $4.5 billion to over $13 billion. His responsibilities encompassed firm management, identifying investment opportunities, expanding global partnerships, and building a strong leadership team. Under his leadership, Fir Tree was noted for its innovative approaches, deep value investing strategies, and effective positive activism. Mr. Walker’s significant contribution includes co-founding the firm’s real estate opportunity funds, focusing on the distressed US housing market, leading to highly successful credit and real estate funds.
Before joining Fir Tree, Mr. Walker was a co-founder and Managing Partner of Black Diamond Capital Management. His career in finance began in investment banking at Kidder, Peabody & Co. and Bear Stearns. He is an alumnus of Boston College’s School of Management, where he earned his B.S. in Economics in 1984, and continues to be actively involved with the university, including serving on its Board of Regents.
Goodloe E. Byron Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer of Potomac Asset Management Co., Inc., a private equity and investment management firm based in Frederick, Maryland. Since founding the firm in 1995, Mr. Byron has overseen private equity investments, strategic advisory services, and asset management initiatives across a range of industries, with a particular focus on growth-stage and operationally intensive businesses.
Prior to establishing Potomac Asset Management, Mr. Byron served as Vice President at Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc. and Alex. Brown & Sons Inc., where he gained extensive experience in investment banking, corporate finance, and capital markets transactions. His background spans both public and private markets, with a particular emphasis on structuring and advising companies through periods of strategic growth and transformation.
Mr. Byron also served as Chairman, President, and Secretary of Smith Electric Vehicles Corp., where he played a pivotal role in guiding the company through significant phases of restructuring and repositioning within the sustainable transportation sector.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and brings decades of leadership, investment insight, and operational expertise to his work.
Dr. Michael Vaknin is a distinguished economist and global markets strategist with a career spanning leading financial institutions and academia. He has served as Chief Economist at JPMorgan Private Bank and as Senior Global Markets Economist at Goldman Sachs International in London. His academic contributions include lecturing on international finance and monetary economics at Columbia University.
Dr. Vaknin earned his BA and MA from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem as an ISEF scholar, and completed his PhD in economics and finance at Columbia University, where he worked as a research assistant to Nobel Laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Edmund Phelps. He currently co-chairs the Development Committee of the ISEF Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing higher education opportunities for underserved communities in Israel.
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert S. Walsh is a highly accomplished military leader with over 35 years of service in the United States Marine Corps, renowned for his strategic vision, operational excellence, and pivotal role in modernizing military capabilities to align with evolving national defense strategies.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, LtGen Walsh also holds a Master of Science in National Security Studies from the National War College. He culminated his distinguished career as the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration. In this capacity, he led the strategic planning and execution of the Marine Corps’ reorganization to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy, integrating warfighting functions and domains across all military services and the Department of Defense.
Throughout his career, LtGen Walsh held pivotal leadership roles, including Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, and Director of Expeditionary Warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. These assignments saw him managing critical warfare systems and overseeing modernization, acquisition, readiness, and training for the Navy and Marine Corps.
LtGen Walsh’s operational achievements include serving as Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom and as Director of Operations at U.S. Northern Command, where he played a key role in safeguarding homeland defense. An F/A-18 pilot, he commanded at all levels, including Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 and Marine Aircraft Group 31, overseeing operations and deployments in both European and Western Pacific theaters. Additionally, he served as an instructor at the prestigious Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), where he trained the next generation of naval aviators in advanced tactical skills.
Beyond his military service, LtGen Walsh continues to shape defense and security strategies as a member of the Geopolitical Intelligence Group and Advisory Board at Academy Securities. He also serves as Co-Chairman of various innovation and investment boards, including those at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Office of Naval Research.
A recipient of numerous writing awards, LtGen Walsh has testified before Congress on critical issues such as modernization and readiness. His enduring commitment to national security and his exceptional expertise have solidified his legacy as a transformative leader and strategic advisor.
Keith Kelly is a former member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), having worked across the U.S. national security infrastructure in a series of foreign and domestic assignments. Mr. Kelly developed extensive inter-governmental relationships within the U.S. National Security apparatus, specifically with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security. He maintained routine engagement with the White House/NSC, Congress, and the 16 agencies comprising the U.S. Intelligence Community.
Keith led multiple field installations in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, and warzone locations. He also worked with several international organizations on multi-lateral objectives. Keith developed experience leading U.S. policy pursuits abroad and has in-depth knowledge of regional commercial interests, risk mitigation strategies, and the overlay of U.S. objectives to foreign regions. He is a respected leader within the USIC for his expertise in building relationships and strategic analysis. He is technically versed in Communication, Cybersecurity, and Critical Infrastructure.
Prior to joining government, Keith worked as an engineer for Exxon-Mobil, International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT), and the General Motors Corporations. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer) from the University of Southern California and holds an MBA (Finance) from the University of Chicago. His hobbies include mountain biking, skiing, and running.
Mr. Green has extensive experience in large and complex commercial transactions and litigations, spanning mergers and acquisitions, asset management, private equity, securitizations, syndication, construction financing, sale-leaseback deals, net leasing, and developmental projects. He has been involved in merger and acquisition transactions in industries as diverse as energy, communications, real estate, banking, retail, entertainment, beverages, hospitality, gaming and mining.
Major clients of Mr. Green at Jones Day where he was a partner included three of the “Big Four Banks” and three of the top four U.S. life insurance companies. With a primary specialty in real estate, he was a pioneer in the M&A landscape, leading efforts to privatize major corporate retail entities for the purposes of restructuring and eventual resale. He was lead counsel to J.P. Morgan Chase in an innovative nationwide portfolio sale leaseback disposition program, covering more than 19 million square feet of retail and office space, with a valuation surpassing ten figures. In addition, he served as the principal real estate counsel to J.P. Morgan Chase in its acquisition of Washington Mutual, the largest FDIC bank takeover and sale in U.S. history, encompassing more than 3,200 properties. Notably, Mr. Green acted as the lead counsel to a lending syndicate of J.P. Morgan Chase, Citibank and Bank of America in what was at the time New York’s highest valued single asset real estate acquisition and the first to cross the $1 billion mark. After the 2008-2009 financial crisis, he was tapped by Wells Fargo to be lead national counsel for its multi-billion dollar commercial real estate workout portfolio. His leasing experience features several New York Metropolitan area office leases surpassing 1 million square feet.
Mr. Green previously chaired the New York Bar Association’s subcommittee on office leasing and has been a guest lecturer on real estate at prestigious institutions such as NYU, Baruch, and Fordham University. He is a graduate of Columbia College, with honors, and Columbia Law School, where he was a recipient of the Stone Scholar Award. He is a former Trustee of the New York Foundling, Board Member of The Save A Child’s Heart Foundation, and Board Member of The American Friends of the Open University of Israel.
Alex Levit is Managing Member of AEye Capital Partners and Co-CEO of AEye Strategic Solutions. With a career rooted in defense technology, autonomous systems, and strategic investment, Alex brings a unique ability to align innovation with market-driven results. He has extensive experience leading M&A initiatives, structuring strategic partnerships, and driving growth for startups and established defense companies across the U.S. and international markets.
Mr. Levit’s professional background includes leadership roles in the development and commercialization of autonomous systems, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and robotics. He has extensive experience managing multi-domain product portfolios, executing mergers and acquisitions, and establishing international strategic partnerships that support corporate expansion objectives. His expertise spans U.S., South Korean, and Singaporean defense markets, among others.
Prior to AEye, Mr. Levit was a senior executive at an aerial robotics company, where he directed product development programs that advanced aerial surveillance capabilities and achieved significant market penetration. He also served in a senior leadership capacity at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), overseeing radar and counter-unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology initiatives. His responsibilities included high-value international contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and market expansion efforts in competitive global environments.
