Team

Partners

Dr. Félix Cárdenas

Professional Experience & Education

  • Managing Partner at Ascendis Partners, an independent sponsor, focused on making acquisitions in specific sectors for its operation and subsequent exit. The industries it participates in are: health, personal care, education, and B2B services. Director at GreenTEK Ventures and Norsk Hydro Statoil, a Swiss-based global private equity fund initiative for Sustainable Energy Director at Norsk Hydro Statoil, to execute long-term multi-million dollar contracts with large global companies such as Eaton, Parker, Valeo and Denso Manager, Ford Motor Company, managed supply chain quality, planning and logistics. Félix is ​​a professor of management at Tec de Monterrey, EGADE Business School, and an affiliated research scientist and fellow at Harvard University in Boston and Columbia University in New York City. He has been a consultant and conducted research in companies such as Cisco, Nokia, Alcan, Logitech, General Electric, Cemex, FEMSA, Credit Suisse, Medtronic and Nestlé.
  • He conducted Post-doctorate studies at Harvard and Columbia University having received his Ph.D. at HEC in Switzerland. He earned an MBA from EGADE Business School, an MSc. in International Business at NHH in Norway and studied industrial engineering at Sophia University in Tokyo and mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a BSc. in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey), Campus Monterrey.
Alberto Zorrilla

Professional Experience & Education

  • Managing Partner at Ascendis Partners. He is responsible for the origination of investments, evaluating new opportunities, as well as assisting in due diligence, execution and closing of transactions. From 2022 to 2023 he worked on the development team at Aimbridge Hospitality, the largest third-party hotel operator in the world, in Dallas, Tx doing investment and new business analysis. From 2016 to 2021 he worked at Fibra Inn, an investment trust in hotel real estate, in the continuous improvement team where projects such as the divestment of non-strategic assets, migration of the company's ERP System, implementation of ESG strategies, development and implementation of hotel operating manuals and energy projects.
  • He earned a Master´s (MS) in Global Hospitality Management at NYU (New York University). He holds a BSc. In Industrial Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey).
Eduardo Gálvez V.

Professional Experience & Education

  • Analyst at Ascendis Partners. In June 2023 he joined the Ascendis Capital team as a full-time Analyst, supporting the origination of investments, evaluation of new opportunities and in all stages of the projects, until the closing of the transactions. In 2022 he joined the Ascendis Capital team as a part-time intern, supporting partners in origination and operation activities.
  • He holds a BA. in Finance from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey).
J. Manuel Núñez

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. He is responsible for the origination of investments, evaluating new opportunities, as well as assisting in due diligence activities, execution and closing of transactions. Managing Partner at Belth Capital Partners, a search fund looking for established businesses to acquire and operate. The activities contemplated research of industries, valuation and structuring of debt and capital operations. From 2007 to 2020, Manuel worked at EY as a Senior Manager dedicated to tax advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, including design and assistance for planning, modelling, investment and business restructuring services. His participation in projects was mainly for industries such as: retail, real estate, manufacturing and financial services. He gained international experience in the Los Angeles, CA office. at Ernst & Young LLP.
  • He earned an MBA from EGADE Business School. He holds a BA. in Finance & Accounting from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey), Campus Monterrey.
Guillermo Ibarra

Professional Experience & Education

  • Managing Partner of Ascendis Partners; Guillermo is an experienced executive with 32 years of solid commercial vision in the pharmaceutical industry. As of December 21, Guillermo became a Private Investor and Healthcare Advisor at River Bank Capital. In 2017 Guillermo assumed the role of GM at Teva Mexico. He led the transformation and recovery of Teva Mx from the failed acquisition of Rimsa. From 2015 to 2017, Guillermo led Grupo Somar México, recently acquired by Endo Pharmaceuticals. In 24 months, Guillermo led an aggressive transformation from a former family business to a successful and rapidly growing Endo operation. In 2010 Guillermo became CEO of More Pharma, a young pharmaceutical company focused on LATAM. Guillermo led the change in 2010 and 2011.
  • He earned an MBA from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). He holds a BSc. In Industrial Engineer from IBERO Mexico City
Keelby Tiellery

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. Managing Partner at Business Ignition, Searchfund In 2018 he co-founded XBA, Strategic Business Advisor. More than 15 years of experience related to Small and Medium Enterprises, serving this segment from retail banking to business consulting. From 2007 to 2020 he worked with BBVA, his last position being Commercial Director of SME Strategy and the sales force.
  • He earned an MBA from IPADE Business School and a MSc in Financial and Economic Engineering from La Salle University México. He holds a BA. In International Marketing from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey).
José Luis Ibarrola

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. Managing Partner at Business Ignition, Searchfund In 2021 he started as an Associate Consultant at XBA. More than 20 years of experience in agribusiness and the food and beverage industry; expert in creation, development and optimization of Agroindustrial supply chains. From 2014 to 2018 he worked with ECOM Trading as Country Manager Peru. In 2011 he worked for Armajaro Trading as Head of Latin-America Cocoa. From 2002 to 2008 he was Country Manager Mexico for ED&F Man.
  • He earned a M.Eng in Financial Engineering from Cornell University. He holds a BA. in Economics with a minor in Applied Statistics from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)
Harald Langholz

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. Since 2023 he has been a Senior Strategy Consultor at Complement Consulting Group. From 2019 to 2023 he worked at Acero Sueco Palme Puebla. Started as a Sales Manager and in 2022 he was promoted to General Manager. In 2016 he co-founded thea.ideas, a service center for the metalworking industry, he was the General Manager from 2016 to 2018.
  • He earned an MBA from EGADE Business School. He participated in the Social Innovation and Enhancing Financial Inclusion in the Digital Age program from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He holds a BA. in International Business from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey), and a BA. Business Administration from exchange semester in EBS-Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht.
Andrés del Cid

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. Since 2019 he has been working in RedGirasol, a platform of crowdfunding for sustainable projects. He started as an intern; in 2020 he was promoted to Credit Risk Manager and in 2023 he became de COO.
  • He is currently doing a Master´s in Finance (MAF) from EGADE Business School. He holds a BSc. in Innovation and Development Engineering.
Rolando Bosque

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. As of September 2023, he became a Consultant at Bain & Company. In 2022 he was a Summer Associate for Bain & Company. From 2019 to 2021 he worked in CEMEX in the strategic planning area as an advisor. In 2018 he worked in DeAcero as a Project Manager
  • He earned an MBA from IESE Business School. He holds a BSc. In Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Industrial Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey), Campus Monterrey.
Santiago Lerdo

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. As of August 2024, he became a managing partner in Atreides Management. From 2015 to 2024 he worked as Co-CEO in Garantía, an online platform that facilitated the acquisition of medical equipment.
  • He holds a BSc. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara
Apolinar Toba

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. Since 2019 he has been working in Sultana Capital as a Managing Partner. From 2014 to 2016 he worked in Grupo Topaz in Strategic Planning with focus in Finance. In 2013 he was a volunteer in Balloon Kenya, co-leading two teams of Kenya entrepreneurs through the process of new venture creation.
  • He earned an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering and in Industrial Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, also referred as Tecnológico de Monterrey), Campus Monterrey.
Daniel Siller

Professional Experience & Education

  • Partner at Ascendis Partners. As of November 2022, he became an Associate Director in Business Development in FlatStone Capital Advisors Inc. From August 2019 to June 2024 he was Manager of Cutting Room and Sewing for Grupo Denim, he started with a team of 43 people and overtime, he ended up managing over 270 employees and 50 different processes. From February 2023 to February 2024 he was an Associate Director for Norec Capital, a private equity fund focused on acquiring companies in the industrial services industry. From March 2023 to August 2023 he was an Associate Director for Sapiens Capital, a search fund.
  • He earned a Master´s in Finance (MAF) from EGADE Business School. He holds a BSc. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad de las Américas Puebla; he also holds a Bachelor´s of Multidisciplinary Studies at University of Texas at El Paso.