Our team
Emerge Strategic Advisors was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 2008 to meet client demand for impartial investment advice in the face of rapidly changing global and regional investment landscapes. Its founders and central core of analysts bring together complementary skill-sets which have shaped Emerge's strategic advisory approach.
Our founders
Co-founder and president, John Cretton (MA Oxon), lives in Geneva and has over twenty years experience in investment strategy, execution and management. An experienced macro trader, John has worked extensively in emerging markets since the 1990s (with early focus on Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Thailand). Highlights include running, local markets exposure for Citigroup's emerging markets hedge fund (2002), establishing his own leveraged macro hedge fund (2004) and launching a Swiss property company (2006). John specialises in macro-economic assessment, global and regional market trend analysis and long-term investment strategy formulation .
Co-founder and director, Surena Walden (MA Oxon), lives in London and has over ten years experience in financial services. Highlights include five years experience in corporate development and M&A, driving Citigroup's research and consultancy in alternative investments in EMEA markets and running her own advisory service to HNW clients and family offices. Surena specialises in geo-politica/lpolicy risk assessment and identification/structuring of direct investment opportunities.
Business Development
Daniel Polton joined our team as Head of Business Development in January 2010. Daniel previously ran his own consultancy business and has extensive experience in both banking and the natural resource sector. Daniel is responsible for developing Emerge's client base and ensuring our network of experts are focussed on client's core and current needs.
Our network
Central to Emerge's success in delivering unique insights to our clients is our network of local, regional and international experts. Our market specialists are selected for their knowledge of market sectors, policy areas and economic developments in Eastern Europe/Middle East, and are drawn from the elite business, finance and political circles of their respective countries. They work closely with our analysts to answer and predict client demands and needs.
Our support teams
To support this network and service our client-base, Emerge has a small management support team based in London. This team ensures the highest standards of client satisfaction and presentational excellence.