Meet the Team

Andrew has enjoyed a successful investment banking career spanning 40 years, during which time he has built strong relationships with many major UK and international institutions as well as a wide range of corporate clients. He spent 11 years with Hoare Govett ABN AMRO before founding and leading Oriel Securities (with the backing of Vitol) as Joint CEO. Under his leadership, Oriel grew to employ nearly 100 people and achieved a valuation of approximately £40 million when he sold his stake. Andrew later became CEO of Blue Oar Plc, where he successfully turned around its UK securities operations and private client division, while also launching a new asset management business. Andrew acquired VSA Capital as a trading name in August 2010 and has since built it into a successful investment bank and brokerage firm with a focus on Natural Resources and Transitional Energy. VSA has established itself as exchange-agnostic, with a global client base and a strong reputation for working with a diverse range of funding partners, including traders, royalty companies, private equity investors, and equity-focused institutions. Andrew continues to travel the world seeking strategic partners and new opportunities for VSA and its clients.

Andrew has a broad range of corporate finance experience gained over 30 years. He commenced his career at the international investment bank Barclays de Zoete Wedd where he spent a number of years in corporate finance, leveraged finance and project finance. After this, following a period in the family manufacturing and logistics businesses in Central and Eastern Europe, he gained further experience in international professional services firms, including Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young, along with specialist corporate broking firms Arden Partners, Libertas Capital and Shore Capital. He became Head of Corporate Finance at Blue Oar Securities where he worked with Andrew Monk from 2007. Since joining Andrew Monk at VSA Capital, he has headed the corporate finance team overseeing the team’s growth in activities encompassing private equity and equity capital markets, public and private company Mergers & Acquisitions. Andrew has for many years acted as a Nominated Adviser to companies quoted on AIM Rules, as a Corporate Adviser on the Aquis Growth Market and as Sponsor on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

Galin started his career with PwC and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2014. During his time at PwC, Galin provided a variety of services, ranging from audit to consulting, to insurance and investment management companies. Over time, Galin shifted his focus to the growing fintech sector, where he helped companies implement good processes and controls to allow them to scale and support their fast growth. In 2018, Galin moved to Octopus Investments where he was appointed the Head of Risk and Compliance of Octopus Labs, Octopus' fintech division. Alongside this, Galin worked on several strategic projects for the wider business and prior to leaving was overseeing the strategic and operational growth of Octopus Ventures. Galin joined Oberon as Finance Director in May 2023, leading the successful integration of Logic Investments into the Oberon Group.

Mark is a highly experienced trader in metal derivatives and physical commodities, mining investor and entrepreneur. He has founded (and listed) several mineral exploration companies in the natural resources sector and he has also acted as an expert witness in high-profile metals and mining related commercial dispute. He is the former Chief Investment Officer and co-founder of Galena Asset Management Ltd, the fund management arm of Trafigura, and then latterly a partner at Apollo Management, one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers. He holds an B.A. in Physics from Oxford University, is married with two children and lives just outside of London.

Oliver joined VSA Capital in 2015 as a mining analyst having worked at VTB Capital for four years where he covered global natural resources companies and commodity markets. At VSA he has covered a wide range of mining companies across development stages and commodities as well as expanding his coverage to oil and gas juniors. He is a CFA Charterholder and holds a BSc in Physical Geography from Durham University.

Phil has over 20 years’ experience as an equity research analyst. He commenced his City career at Teather & Greenwood and previously worked at SP Angel prior to joining VSA. Phil specialises in technology and alternative energy. He was formerly a technology professional employed in engineering, marketing and operational roles within the semiconductor divisions of Texas Instruments Inc. and Philips.

David has over 30 years’ experience in global equity and commodity markets, having previously worked at Wood Gundy, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and GMP SecuritiesSince joining VSA in 2014, he has headed the sales team overseeing the team’s capital markets activity including fundraisings and roadshows.

Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the natural resources sector, having previously worked in-field in geologic exploration for precious metals, base metals and industrial minerals, for the City of Reno Planning Department and Hemscott. Paul joined the VSA Research team in 2006 and provides our clients with in depth analysis on the global mining activity.

Brian has over a decade of experience specialising in capital markets and M&A transactions in China, Hong Kong and the UK across diverse sectors, including technology, manufacturing, real estate, and financial services. He started his career in audit at Grant Thornton before joining Ernst & Young. After that, he became a sponsor to companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, assisting companies from a broad range of industries. He then joined BDO in the UK where he carried out financial due diligence work for both UK and cross-border M&A transactions before joining VSA Capital. Brian is also qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (HKICPA) and a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW).

Oriol is a seasoned corporate finance professional with experience across diversified industrials, aerospace and defence, and consumer products. Before joining VSA Capital, he held M&A advisory roles at Verdier & Co., Seabury Securities, and EY, following earlier experience in transaction services at PwC. Oriol began his career as a financial auditor. He holds an MBA from IESE Business School and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Barcelona.

Dylan joined VSA Capital having prior Corporate Broking experience in London. He also has had internship experience in Private Equity at Enko Capital in Johannesburg. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Corporate Finance & Investments from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Sam joined VSA Capital in July 2025 following corporate finance experience in investment banking and private equity, with a focus on the TMT, Infrastructure and Real Estate sectors. Now part of VSA's Corporate Finance team, he leverages his industry insight and analytical skills to deliver value for clients. He holds an MSc in Banking and Finance from King’s College London.

Mr Zheng has a broad range of finance and investment experiences and an international business background. He commenced his career working for a boutique hedge fund in New York. Later he progressed to become investment manager at Cambridge Hanover, a real estate private equity firm in Connecticut, US. He underwrote over 100 deals and closed over 50 million USD in two years, and generating over 20% IRR for equity investorsSubsequently, he returned to China and served as the executive director of Shanghai Feizhou Group, overseeing the investment and financing of commercial real estate and tourism assets. Mr Zheng graduated as a Cum Laude Honors Scholar with a B.S. degree in Finance and Accounting from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a M.S. degree in Hospitality Industry Studies from New York University, Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism. He served as the President of Stern Real Estate Club.