Giovanni Manella is a highly experienced professional in the financial sector, with a background in business management and the management of Multi Family Offices and Family Offices. He has worked with leading Italian and Swiss banks, held top management positions and served as a trainer for various financial institutions. He has a track record of successfully launching and managing Family Offices and Multi Family Offices for private investors in various international locations. He also served as Global Coordinator of the $900M spin-off from HSBC to GNB Sudameris. He currently serves as External Member of the Board or Strategic Advisor for various banks and companies, and holds the positions of Head of MultiFamily Office Department of Pentagon Group in Luxembourg and President and CEO of P+G Capital in Chiasso.
Moneys Magazine has interviewed Giovanni Manella for his extensive experience and expertise as a consultant for innovative startups. He has a successful track record in assisting clients in the FinTech and Digital Banking sector and is currently directly involved in two startup projects, one in the NFT space for talent scouting and certification in the football industry, and another as a co-founder of a Swiss startup HUB (named SwissWave) that supports and develops a portfolio of startups in various sectors. He also discussed the types of startups that family offices are interested in investing in, including sectors such as big data, biotechnology, digital health, engineering, fintech, and renewable energy.
Could you describe your professional background and experience in the financial
sector?
I have a multiyear experience in the financial sector which led me to work with some of the most important English, Swiss and Italian Banks and Financial Institutions reaching Executive and Top Management roles.
In particular, in the Italian market, I contributed to the creation and development of the main Bank Sales Networks for the distribution of financial services, becoming their Commercial Director and General Manager.
Again in the financial sector, I have been a Professor and Trainer at Banks, Financial Institutions and Private Higher Education Schools.
What specific roles have you held in the business management and management of Multi Family Offices and Family Offices?
For about ten years I was engaged, as Head of Team, by international Investors with the aim of launching, developing and consolidating (in various jurisdictions) their Family Office, their Multi Family Office or their Advisory Company. I had the full responsibility and involvement and I managed UHNWI and HNWI needs.
What is your experience working with Family Offices and how have you been involved in managing their operations and activities?
I was initially, as previously mentioned, engaged as Managing Director by several international Investors for the launch and positioning of their Family Office or Multi Family Office with total involvement and responsibility to then later create my Multi Family Offices in London, Chester, Zurich, Lugano, Chiasso and cover the role of Head of Multi Family Office Department of an important Luxembourg company (The Pentagon Group) and that of President and Chief Executive Officer of an important Swiss company (P+G Capital).
Could you provide an example of a successful project you have worked on and the challenges you faced?
In Lugano I was contacted from one of the most important International Business Lawyers (who met me when we worked together at Comit Bank in Milan) that had just been appointed Chief Executive Officer of an Investment and Merchant Bank based in Lugano and Zurich that was part of a Bank Group also active in Wealth Management and Private Bank.
I was specifically sought out and contacted to join his Team with the goal to develop the business of the Investment and Merchant Bank (Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Hospitality and Real Estate Department Development, Energy Department Development) giving an international positioning to the Investment and Merchant Bank.
I accepted the assignment and I reached the goal in twelve months, in advance of the 18 months required of me.
Once I reached the goal as in charge, I launched a provocation to the Owners of the Bank Group because, although the Corporate Department and the Private Department shared the same beautiful prestigious building on the lakefront of Lugano, there was no synergy between Private Banking and Corporate Banking, muchless there was cross-selling and above all those who operated in private banking did not even know in detail the operation of the Merchant Department; something I considered to be very serious having Customers who for 95% were or constituted by Entrepreneurs. I discussed with the Ownership of the Bank of this instance dictated by an obvious and recognized deficiency and I was assigned the position of Head of Team of eleven Professionals (myself included, five of the Private Department and five of the Corporate Department) in order to create synergy between the two Departments in a path first informative, then training and finally operational sharing that led to a significant increase in revenues and net-profits both for Private and for Corporate and therefore for the whole Group.
The success of the work done was also recognized recently because an Italian Private Bank sought me, then giving me the assignment, to outsource all the part of non-financial asset consulting activities (art, prestigious real estate, yield real estate, participations, family office services, concierge services), the digital banking part and the corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions business so as to integrate and implement the current business model.
Tell us about your experience as a consultant for innovative startups.
As a Consultant, I have in particular assisted Clients in the FinTech & Digital Banking area, helping them both in market research, business model definition, business planning activities and in Project financing activities.
In the field of startups, however, I am also directly involved in two situations currently on the table:
A) Launch of a NFT focused on talent scouting, assessment and certification aimed at transparency of the value of the football players who are the asset of the football club and use of the blockchain for the clarity and ratification of transfers of football players from one club to another on site of transfer market.
B) Set up, with three Friends and Partners, of a HUB in Lugano (SwissWave) aimed at intercepting, selecting, supporting, developing and managing a portfolio of startups in various sectors.
For example, we are currently working on: Personal and Healthcare, Sonoporation, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Communities, Space Industry, Broadcasting, Cybersecurity, FinTech and Blockchain.
What types of startups are family offices interested in investing on?
It clearly depends on the approach and investment style of each Family Office but I can state that there is interest in the following sectors: big data and internet apps, biotechnology, life sciences, digital health, personal care, engineering, mobile and fixed wireless access, 3D modeling, internet of the things, cybersecurity, fintech, blockchain, space industry, machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, renewable energy, e-mobility, cleantech, environment and circular economy, social.
Could you provide more information about your experience working with The Pentagon Group and with P+G Capital, including specific details on your roles and responsibilities?
At Pentagon Group, which is based in Luxembourg, I hold the position of Head of Multi Family Office Department and I am responsible for the multiassets investment choices of UHNWI and HNWI Clients coordinating and supervising the activity of the Senior Advisors Team. The Pentagon Group is an Alternative Investment Fund Manager according to the Law of 12 July 2013, AIFM being registered at the CSSF in Luxembourg, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. The Pentagon Group embodies a philosophy of strong ethical values with integrity, transparency, trust, dedication, reliability and refined financial expertise providing the following services:
Wealth Management/Family Office/Private Investment Office
Asset Management/Portfolio Management
Multi Family Office Services
Structuring & Managing Assets
Financing Economic Projects
Clearing Financial Transactions
Alpha Defender Fund
Pentagon Yacht Services &
Luxury Lifestyle
The Pentagon Group acts, total independent from any bank, as a General Partner for servicing the needs of Institutional and Private Clients ranging from Entrepreneurs, UHNWI, HNWI, Investment Firms, Corporate Institutions, Pension Funds, Family Offices and Foundations.
In P+G Capital, which is based in Switzerland, I hold the position of President and CEO.
P+G Capital is an Independent Swiss Advisory Firm that offers a wide set of top quality
international services with the mission to fulfill the Clients’requests and needs with concreteness and efficiency providing a tailor-made assistance thanks to the professional and multilingual Staff.
P+G Capital is active in the following sectors:
Investment Banking
Relocation and Life Organizer
Wealth Management
Luxury Real Estate
Art
Mergers & Acquisitions
Corporate Finance
Internationalization
Business Development
Luxury Management
At the same time P+G Capital is Promoter and Actor of Social Projects and is closely related and connected with ASBI, which is an International Association based in Switzerland, which deals with humanitarian and cultural support promoting integration and inclusion and supporting small business and microcredit.
