He began his professional career in 1990 as an investment banking analyst specializing in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs in London. Between 1992 and 1997 he was responsible in London for the M&A activity of Bankers Trust (now Deutsche Bank) for Spain and Portugal.
He joined Telefónica in 1997 as General Director of Projects and Strategic Alliances and he was appointed CEO of Antena where he undertook a deep and successful restructuring – from 1997 to 2000. In addition, he became Chairman of Telefónica Media between 2000 and 2002. He was President of Vía Digital (currently Movistar Plus), Director of Onda Cero, Endemol and Recoletos. During this period, he was part of the Executive Committee of Telefónica.
He founded Palmera Capital y Servicios in 2002, to advise and invest in high-growth private companies. Between 2002 and 2012 he held the position of President in the Spanish listed company Service Point. As one of its founding partners, he promoted the financial services firm Arcano in 2003, being President from 2005 to 2008 and President of Arcano Capital between 2006 and 2013. In 2015 he founded NK5 where he currently is the Executive President.
He has a vast experience as an independent advisor in a variety of different businesses, among others, of the European Advisory Board of CVC Capital Partners, ESADE Business School, Diario de Navarra, Noatum, OHL or Uralita.
Currently, he is advisor of the real estate activities of the american investmend fund Anchorage Capital Group, in which he also became Senior Advisor between 2012 and 2016, and of VBARE SOCIMI. He is a member of the advisory board of Banco Sabadell Este and member of the advisory board of Havas Media. He was Executive President of Grupo Baux while it was participated by NK5.
In 2005, he is chosen by the World Economic Forum as one of its 100 Young Global Leaders. He founded Fundacíón AYO, created to generate and stimulate opportunities for the personal and professional development of minors at risk of exclusion. He also became Country Chair of the international foundation Global Dignity.
He has a degree in ADE from ICADE (Madrid) and has completed specialization courses at Stanford University and the London Business School.
Manuel is a cofounding partner at NK5 and he specializes in financial restructuring and business operations. He has developed his career working the last 13 years in investment, restructuring, refinancing and insolvency processes. He has long-standing experience as a restructurer, having been involved in more than 100 insolvency processes and reestructurings, most of them as Insolvency Trustee, in which he has led numerous liquidations of production units.
Previous to his current role, he worked for 9 years at Deloitte, where he created and led the current areas of restructuring and insolvency. Before that, he was a corporate banker at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ for 5 years.
Manuel graduated in Business Administration from ICADE.
Álvaro joined the NK5 team in September 2020 as a Director, and within the firm is a specialist in financial restructuring of companies in a legal perspective.
He has developed his last 9 years in DLA Piper, where he was Of Counsel of the Restructuring & Special Situations area, participating in acquisition,
restructuring, refinancing and insolvency processes, nationally and internationally. He has extensive experience advising international clients (e.g. Goldman Sachs, Apollo, KKR, King Street, Strategic Value Partners, Credit Suisse International or Deutsche Bank) in cross-border restructuring
processes both in solvency and insolvency, in different pre-insolvency mechanisms (refinancing agreements), purchase and sale of production units,
and liquidation of companies. He also has experience in transactions related to distress assets and debt (secondary market subject to LMA documentation).
Álvaro has been recognized by the legal ranking Best Lawyers as one of the best Lawyers in Spain between 2016 and 2019 (Categeory Insolvency & Reorganization), and was finalist in 2019 on the Iberian Lawyer Forty under 40, as Best Individual Lawyer in Insolvency & Restructuring.
He holds a degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, a Postgraduate Degree in Business Law from the Open
University of Catalonia, and has completed several specialization courses in restructuring, banking and financial law (CFA Level I Candidate).
He was a speaker in post graduate programs in different business schools, such as IEB (Institute of Stock Market Studies), where he participated in the Course of Refinancing & Restructuring, and in the University of Navarra, where he participated in the Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession. In addition, he has been a regular collaborator in the DLA Piper Internship Programme and he is a current member of TMA (Turnaround Management Association) in Spain.
David is a professional wih more than 10 years of working experience and has a business overall view (M&A, Corporate Finance, Restructuring and Audit).
He joined NK5 in October 2016. Since then he has led, satisfactorily, different mid-market companies processes of investment and restructuring from a wide variety of sectors and situations.
He previously worked for two years as a Corporate Finance Associate for EY, taking part in several mergers and acquisitions projects worldwide.
He has also worked for three years as an auditor at PwC and Deloitte.
David is graduated in Business Administration from University Carlos III of Madrid (top of his class) and holds a master degree from ICADE in Auditing and Management Development. He was chosen by Lee Iacocca (Ford´s former president) as one of the 100 young Business and Industry Future Leaders at Lehig University (Pensilvania). He is also an entrepreneur since his 16 years and has completed different specialization courses.
Luis has nearly 10 years of experience in the Spanish financial sector, having developed his career as an M&A advisor and subsequently, as head of
investment and restructuring projects in companies undergoing operational and/or financial instability.
Before joining in 2018, Luis developed his professional career in KPMG as an analyst, associate and later manager in the Corporate Finance – Financial Institutions Group team.
Previously, he worked for nearly 2 years in HSBC’s Spanish Asset Management Division.
Luis holds a double degree in Business Administration and Law from CUNEF and holds a master degree in International Business Management from CECO as a part of the ICEX Scholarship.
Gonzalo joined NK5 team as an analyst in June 2016.
He previously worked in the Equity Derivatives department at BBVA C&IB.
Gonzalo has a double degree in Business Administration and Management and in Law from the Autonomous University of Madrid and carried out an exchange program at EDHEC Business School (Lille, France).
Raul joined NK5 team in June 2022.
Previously, he worked as an analyst in 9fin (London, UK) in the Leveraged Finance markets department covering European debt issuers. He formerly did an internship in the risk department of BBVA.
Raúl holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Barcelona and a Master in Finance from IE Business School. In addition, he is a CFA III candidate and was a global finalist of the CFA Research Challenge in its 2022 edition.
Covadonga joined the NK5 team in September 2022.
She previously worked at PwC in the Deals program, where she participated in projects in the areas of M&A, Debt and Restructuring, Corporate Finance (FIG) and Transaction Services. In addition, she worked in the Financial Risk Department (FRM) at KPMG.
Covadonga has a degree in Economics, Leadership and Governance from the University of Navarra and has two exchange programs at Bentley University (Boston, Massachusetts) and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen: Top 100 University (Groningen, Netherlands). In addition, she completed a “Politics & Governance” course at Georgetown University (Washington, DC) and a “Innovation & Management” course at Imperial College, London. In addition, she has passed CFA level I.
Since 2015, she is part of the NK5 team as Office Manager and responsible for Human Resources and talent development.
Patricia has a degree in Psychology from the Complutense University of Madrid, and she began her professional career alongside Juan José Nieto at Telefónica Media, developing her career in different companies such as Arcano, Service Point or Palmera Capital y Servicios.
Manuel Álvarez holds a Civil Engineering Degree from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and has more than 35 years of experience in the construction, concessions, oil & gas services, and railway logistics sectors.
Manuel joined in 2018 the OHL Group as Managing Director where he led the transformation and financial restructuring of the group, overseeing the operational divisions (construction, concessions, industrial and services)
and the functional ones (finance, legal and organization and human
resources). He managed a reduction in general expenses from 240M€ in 2018 to 130M€ in 2019. In addition, he was responsible of the execution of new policies of compliance and transparency, where he managed to recover shareholders trust.
In 2016 he joined Dragados (ACS Group) as Director of Engineering and Technical Services, where he led the design, acquisition and supervision of important projects in Canada, USA, LATAM and Europe from the tendering until the delivery.
Manuel was Managing Director at Leighton Asia (CIMIC Group) from 2014 until 2016, where he oversaw the transformation and restructuring of the company, focusing on the expansion and operational improvements of the company. He was responsible for a reduction in general expenses of $53 million, which meant a reduction of 41%.
From 1998 until 2015, Manuel acted as Chief Operating Officer of Vías y Construcciones (ACS Group), where he achieved, between 2005 to 2008, a 70% internal growth and he also increased in 10 years the Spain share market to a 230%. Moreover, he opened new branches in Poland, USA and Canada. During that period, he was the Chief Executive Officer of different branches of VIAS and he also acted as member of many councils.
Previously he worked in companies such as Lain S.A. (former OHL company), Construcciones Adolfo Sobrino, where Laín merged with the company. He also became head of the construction department at the Ministry of Development of Castilla y León and in Rubiera S.A., a family-owned business specialized in prefabricated concrete solutions.
Jaime holds a degree in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania (USA) and completed an Executive Program at CEDEP-INSEAD.
Nowadays Jaime is Senior Advisor and Spain Representative of Infraestructura SpA and independant advisor of IslaLink. From 2005 to 2017 he held the position of CEO in Renovalia Energy Group. Jaime is founder of the company Bartcorp Strategies.
From 2000 to 2002, he is CEO and country manager of HSBC, where from 1996 to 2000 he held the position of deputy CEO. In addition, Jaime has been an executive director in the treasury and capital markets area of Midland Bank (merged with HSBC).
From 1989 to 1990 he worked in the financial engineering area at Citibank Spain, as Vice President. Jaime began his professional career at Lloyds Bank, where he became an executive officer in the treasury and capital markets area from 1987 to 1989.
Josep Balcells has more than 12 years of experience in advising, managing and executing corporate transactions. He started his professional career at PWC specialized in FIG Spain and London until 2012.
Subsequently, he joins the English Venture Capital Fund 3i in its London office where he is part of the investment team for the Iberian portfolio, focused on the monitoring and valuation of investments.
At the end of 2013, he decided to join Mora Banc as head of private equity, where he created the manager specializing in alternative asset management Amura Capital. During this period, he invests more than 250 million euros in high-growth assets. He acted as the main investor in Inmobiliaria Colonial in 2013, originating the restructuring of the company and promoting the new strategy until entering the IBEX-35. He also promotes investment in FIA Formula E, being one of the institutional founding investors, or acquires The Admiralthy Arch in London from the English government developing an iconic hotel and residential project with Waldorf Astoria. Josep participates as an active LP with Fosun Capital in its fund “China momentum fund” acquiring international mid-market companies to position them in the Chinese market.
Josep Balcells is a director and member of the audit and remuneration committee in several companies, such as FIA Formula E, Admiralthy Arch or Casa Vicens, among others.
In 2016 he was appointed head of corporate development at Mora Banc group to provide strategic support to the corporate board of directors.
In 2020 he created MIBANI, an alternative investment boutique, which later changed its name to NK5 Real Estate. He currently combines the divestments in the final phase of Amura Capital with the management of NK5 Real Estate. Josep Balcells has a degree in ADE from the Ramon Llull University of Barcelona, he has a Global MBA from IESE.
Fernando joined NK5 in 2022 to lead the launch of AYO Social Ventures, an independent business unit focused on Social Impact investing.
He began his professional career at atl Capital, a private banking firm born from AB Asesores and Morgan Stanley team. After several years of creating, maintaining and retaining private clients accounts, he decided to join Renta4banco to continue building a portfolio of high net worth individuals.
In 2019 he joined Dozen Investments, an investment firm created by Inveready, as Director of the Fundraising and Investor Relations area, both in Madrid and Barcelona.
Fernando has a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Francisco de Vitoria University and he is a specialist in Private Banking from the IEB. He also has the EFPA Spain (European Financial Advisor) certificate.
He has developed his career as a financial manager of multinational companies, assisting in the development of the organization through the completion of growth, efficiency and competitiveness objectives.
He has been directly responsible for the implementation, launch and control of companies, subsidiaries and investees, in Latin America, EMEA and Southeast Asia, where he has negotiated project financing with local and international banking and non-banking financial institutions.
Previously, he was a founding partner of Deneb S.A., a company dedicated to the manufacture and sale of office furniture.
Macarena has been part of the NK5 team since March 2019, as CSR Manager. She is currently doing research and consulting work in various fields, including CSR and sustainability.
She holds a degree in Law and Business Administration from Universidad Pontificia de Comillas de Madrid, a Master’s degree in International Humanitarian Aid from University College Dublin and a Master’s degree in Management from Harvard University.
She has developed his professional career in different consulting firms and non-profit organizations at national and international level. She has worked in countries such as Belgium, the United States, Peru, Dominican Republic, Philippines and Niger, in management, evaluation, research, consulting and strategic development projects.
Among her most recent researchs are publications about “Convention Tourism and Social Inclusion. Innovative experiences of MICE tourism in the region of Cusco, Peru” and “Adaptation to Climate Change. International Initiatives to Support Small Rural Producers”. In the field of Corporate Volunteering, it is worth mentioning the “Guide for the implementation of a Corporate Volunteering Program for the Development” and “Corporate Volunteering for Development. A strategic tool for integrating business and employees in the fight against poverty.”
Manuel has worked since 2017 in research and transfer projects associated with History and Heritage at the Rey Juan Carlos University thanks to contracts from the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Ministry of Science and Innovation. He has coperated and worked with other foundations, organizations, and institutions, through national and european funding, in social and educational innovation projects for the implementation of good practices and intervention methodologies in the field of social exclusion and inclusion.
Since April 2022 he is part of Fundacion AYO as Project Technician.
Manuel holds a degree in History of Art from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and completed the last academic year at the University of Edinburgh. He also has a Master in Cultural Anthropology from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and a Master in Film and Television Scriptwriting from the Universidad Carlos III.