We are
Specialists in
Climate
Tech

Susten manages both private green investments and a listed equity energy transition portfolio, so our clients benefit from our deep knowledge of all stages in a company’s growth cycle.

MISSION
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VISION
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VALUES
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HISTORY
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TEAM

“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy — sun, wind, and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

Thomas Edison / INVENTOR / 11 Feb 1847-1931
MISSION
We dedicate our expertise, passion, and capital to achieve high returns by investing into the Energy Transition leading companies of the future.
We aim to address the climate challenge at scale, by deploying capital from investors seeking profit with purpose.
VISION
The world’s energy is transitioning.
We help our clients play an active role in this change so we can achieve a more sustainable future.
VALUES
We operate under a shared belief that climate change is one of the most pressing problems facing the world today.
The Energy sector is transforming, challenges to sustainable living are growing and our team is evolving. Our values and commitment to our clients remains constant.

We are driven by

[ 01 ]
love
Our love for the science and technology in the Energy sector
[ 02 ]
experience
Our experience in building long-standing client relationships
[ 03 ]
responsibility
Our responsibility to ourselves, our colleagues, our environment
HISTORY
The idea of Susten was formed in 2018, when we began investing in early-stage, energy transition related businesses in Europe. However, many of us have worked together since the early 2000’s.
Susten idea

2003: David Herne founded Halcyon, an investment management firm, specializing in the utility sector in Eastern Europe.

By 2021: Halcyon managed approximately $1bn in listed equity mandates and in private markets for institutional investors, including leading sovereign wealth funds, US university endowments, and other asset allocators.

2018-Present: Our team focused on pioneering clean energy investments, leading to the creation of Susten in 2021 - a UK-based company committed to driving energy transition projects in the UK and Eurozone. At the same time Alexey Klaptsov, a senior PM at Halcyon, followed his passion, establishing a listed equity fund dedicated to European companies in the energy transition space.

2022: David and Alexey made a pivotal move, joining forces at Susten. As a result, we created SUSTEN, an investment company where clients can benefit from our holistic understanding of the sector across both private equity and listed markets.

The Energy sector is transforming, challenges to sustainable living are growing and our team is evolving.
Our values and commitment to our clients remains constant.
NAME
Susten is a contraction of sustainable energy and, by happy coincidence, it is also the name of a lovely pass in central Switzerland.
TEAM
The core investment team has a background in Physics and Chemistry and a desire to make a positive impact on the world.
dedicated
private equity team
[ 01 ]

JOHN MARROW
  • 35 years of experience in strategy consulting, VCPE, fund management and advisory, and start-ups – across energy, technology, environment and sustainability;
  • Experienced company builder, as founder, manager and investor – taken companies to both IPO and trade sale;
  • Built extensive investment experience in start-ups using technology and innovation to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. Invested in over 30 start-ups companies;
  • Experienced non-executive director and board-level adviser – providing governance, strategic input and support for scaling;
  • Ex-Big 4 and bp Ventures;
  • Former expert panellist on the Global Cleantech 100;
  • Enjoys working on the big problems that deep science-based technologies aim to solve.

NINA BUDAZHAPOVA
  • Intellectual volunteer for the Lake Baikal Foundation;
  • Previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers - advised medium and large companies on international tax planning and tax structuring of international transactions;
  • A Chevening Fellow of the UK government;
  • Holds MA in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.

ELENA KRYLOVETSKAYA
  • Previously worked as a portfolio manager in a Halcyon fund investing in blockchain-related assets, where she was responsible for research and portfolio management;
  • Holds MSc in Financial Economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University.
general team
[ 02 ]

DAVID HERNE
  • Founder of investment management company Halcyon (2003) which managed approx. USD 1 billion in emerging market securities. David left Halcyon in 2022 to join Susten;
  • Previously held senior roles at Brunswick Capital Management, Unifund, Credit Suisse, Boston Consulting Group;
  • Holds a BA from Harvard University;
  • Lived in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Boston, Moscow, London and Andermatt;
  • Love mountains, the ocean, physical activity, intellectual excitement!

CHRYS VAKLA
  • 20 years in Finance in both Investment Banking and Wealth Management having worked in RBC, Credit Suisse, Citi and Deutsche Bank;
  • In her career, Chrys has been advising Hedge Funds, Private Equity Partners, and Private investors in areas such as investment portfolios, wealth structuring and financing;
  • 10 years in Prime Services helping Hedge Funds grow providing Capital Introductions and originating new business for the bank;
  • Chair of the Angel Investor committee of the Hellenic Tech Network in the UK;
  • Passionate about entrepreneurship, community work and mentorship.
  • Former expert panellist on the Global Cleantech 100;

PASCALE LEBAILLIF
  • 20+ years in Investment Banking and Asset Management; JPMorgan Asset Management, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Credit Agricole CIB, combining structuring, strategic, contractual and operational experience.
  • Expanded and developed derivatives and capital market businesses across Europe, Emerging Markets, Middle-East and the US.
  • Track record of developing new businesses and delivering multi-million $ growth, as well as driving global implementation of complex legal, regulatory and tech projects.
  • Renowned ability to identify and implement innovative solutions whilst promoting a strong risk and control environment.
dedicated
listed equity team
[ 03 ]

ALEXEY KLAPTSOV, PHD
  • Worked at Halcyon from 2005-2021 - Responsible for co-managing funds, trading and research;
  • Graduated in 2001 from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI with an MSc in Theoretical Physics;
  • From 2001-2005 Alexey worked on his PhD in Condensed Matter Physics at the National Research Centre;
  • Loves Chinese language and culture, all science related matters, but he’s particularly passionate about physics.

ROLF HELBLING
  • A co-founder of Carnot Capital, (Carnot Efficient Energy Fund generated 215% since inception in 2009); • Previously led the Industry and Telecom Research team of BZ Bank;
  • Also worked in the private equity team of Bank Vontobel and corporate banking in Citibank in Zurich and New York;
  • Graduated in economics from the University of St Gallen.

DMITRII DANILOV
  • Responsible for Sustainable Energy market research;
  • Previously worked as an engineer in R&D Center;
  • Holds Master’s degree in Fundamental and Applied Chemistry - Lomonosov Moscow State University and is currently a PhD student in Materials Science.

EKATERINA KAVUNETS
  • Was an intern in Citibank (Treasury and Trade Solutions Department);
  • Have won the scholarship to study International Finance in Rennes School of Business, France and finished the Double Bachelor Degree program with GPA of 4.93;
  • Ekaterina holds BA of excellence in Finance and Credit from Plekhanov University of Economics.