Who
we are

We are innovators and problem solvers, entrepreneurs and advisors. With experts across the globe, we are the quiet power in a tumultuous investing world.

As a team from different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities, we address the needs of a multilingual client base, enabling us to help more and more people.

Premier Invest was built on the premise that a multicultural firm can serve a global clientele best. We are a united collection of individuals who respect each other’s differences.
Premier Invest’s offices around the world infuse the local flavour of their regions into a global network. Our people come from multiples countries. We take pride in the rich diversity of our employees and seek to continually enhance the mix.

Core

Our clients benefit from extensive experiences of execution and delivery excellence of our advisory team, with in-depth market experience and a broad international partnership network.

René Awambeng

Managing Partner

René Awambeng is a seasoned executive with a distinguished career in senior management, specializing in corporate and investment banking across Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, Caribbean and the Middle East. He has consistently provided strategic vision, direction, and leadership to international development finance institutions and commercial banks, successfully navigating complex financial landscapes and delivering outstanding results.

With over 30 years of experience, René has been instrumental in driving corporate success, generating more than US$8 billion in revenue and overseeing US$300 billion in transactions across various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, commodities, and financial advisory services. His ability to transform strategic concepts into concrete results has made him a highly sought-after leader in the banking and financial services sectors.

Recognised as an expert in African banking, trade, and financial services, René boasts an extensive network of government officials, C-suite executives, and industry leaders. He has a proven track record of expanding business operations, building global alliances, and excelling in change management and leadership. René’s expertise, combined with his deep understanding of diverse markets, positions him as a key influencer and strategist in the global financial landscape.

Marcel Awasum

Head of Business Development

Marcel is a Senior Corporate Finance and Capital Capital Markets professional with over 15 years of experience in delivering several transformational trading, risk, portfolio, and asset management, and servicing projects for Germany’s top tier Investment Banks, Commercial Banks, and Asset Managers like Deutsche Bank, Sal. Oppenheim, Helaba, Talanx Asset Management GmbH, NordLB, and CACEIS (Credit-Agricole’s Asset Servicing Group). As a corporate banker, he advised and structured trade, export credit, infrastructure, and project financing deals for African corporates.

Dr. N Yvonne Claire Ndifor

Senior Finance Consultant

Yvonne Claire is a seasoned finance executive with over 20 years of experience optimising complex financial operations with best-in-class systems and processes across multinational corporations.  A proven track record of driving financial performance, maximising resource efficiency, and implementing sustainable growth strategies.

Her expertise encompasses strategic financial management, financial analysis and reporting,  leading cross-functional teams, and driving operational excellence across various industries. A visionary leader dedicated to continuous improvement, Yvonne Claire is committed to delivering strategic insights and fostering sustainable business growth.

Paul Akene

Head of Operations

Highly accomplished and results-driven Vice President of Operations with over 17 years of experience in the financial advisory services sector. Demonstrated expertise in optimizing operational processes, driving business growth, and enhancing organizational efficiency. Proven track record of successful leadership across diverse regions, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America.

As a former Sr Project Manager of Edward Jones Paul comes to Premier Invest with a handful of invaluable skills: Strategic Planning and Execution, Operational Leadership, Process Optimization and Efficiency, Cross-Regional Management, Team Building and Development, Compliance and Risk Management, Client Relationship Management and Financial Analysis and Reporting.

Kemi Obembe

Legal & Compliance Consultant

With over 15 years of experience in both legal practice and compliance management, Kemi brings a unique blend of expertise that ensures comprehensive legal counsel and robust regulatory adherence for our clients. As a dual-qualified Solicitor and Compliance Officer, she specializes in providing strategic legal advice while simultaneously safeguarding organisations against regulatory risks.

As a seasoned Solicitor, Kemi successfully represented clients across a broad spectrum of legal matters, including criminal law, corporate law, contract negotiations, litigation, and regulatory disputes. As a Compliance Officer, Kemi developed and implemented comprehensive compliance programs that align with both national and international regulations, such as AML, GDPR, and industry-specific compliance standards, and she also has extensive KYC experience within investment banking.

Sam Appleby Wallis

Associate

Sam Wallis holds a First Class, Bachelor of Science from Kingston University, London. Following his studies he worked for Moteriba an indigenous Nigerian Energy Trading company as the company’s Business Development Officer.

Ivan Burnley

Associate

Ivan Burnley is an Associate with Premier Invest. Ivan is focused on corporate analysis and business development.

Mr. Burnley received a BBA in Accounting from the Honors College of Georgia State University. He is currently a master’s candidate at the University of Pennsylvania.

Premier Invest principles

Premier Invest’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being.

We rely on our principles to guide how we interact with each other, our clients, the communities in which we operate, and all our other stakeholders.

These principles represent our core values, our aspirations, and our cultural language – lived and embraced by every employee at our firm.

  • We are a fiduciary to our clients

    Our clients’ interests come first.

    The fiduciary mindset is the bedrock of our identity. It reflects our integrity and the unbiased advice we give our clients.

    And it’s what inspires us to come to work every day and help people build better futures.

  • We are One Premier Invest

    We work collaboratively, without silos and without turf, to create the best outcomes for our clients, our firm, and the communities where we operate.

    A diverse workforce is indispensable to our creativity and success. It’s how we answer the biggest questions and solve the toughest problems.

    An inclusive, equitable environment makes us thrive. It enables us to draw on expertise and unique experiences from across the firm and bring out the best in each other.

  • We are passionate about performance

    We are relentless about finding better ways to serve our clients and improve our firm. Since our founding, innovation has been at the centre of how we deliver performance and stay ahead of our clients’ needs.

    We have continually reinvented our firm and our industry to help people achieve their goals.

    We are lifelong students – of markets, of technology, and of the world.

  • We take emotional ownership

    The people we serve entrust us to help them prepare for the future. Our culture is defined by the deep sense of responsibility we feel to our clients and to each other.

    In everything we do – from the investment performance we deliver to the technology we develop – we are emotionally invested in our clients’ futures.

    We are equally invested in the success of our firm and our colleagues. We hold ourselves and each other to the highest standards of excellence.

  • We are committed to a better future

    We are long-term thinkers, focused on helping people build a better tomorrow. We are deeply invested in the success of all of our stakeholders – our clients, our employees, our shareholders, and the communities where we operate – and we run our business sustainably and responsibly.

    At the companies we invest in for our clients, we advocate for sustainable and responsible business practices that drive long-term value.

    We always strive to serve more people, and to find new and innovative ways to help them achieve financial well-being.