OUR TEAM
Seasoned Team Delivering Consistent Value Add to the Platform
Senior Team
Meet Our Leadership Team
Karim Moussa
Co-CEO EFG Hermes - Investment Bank (Buy-Side) ExCom Member of EFG Hermes Holding CEO Vortex Energy
Karim joined EFG Hermes in Dubai in 2008, with the primary responsibility of building the Firm’s value-add and core infrastructure private equity platforms. Today, he leads EFG Hermes’ USD 4.5 billion buy-side business, a role he has held since 2017. Karim led the establishment of Vortex Energy in 2014, raising and deploying close to USD 1 billion in renewable energy assets across Europe. He recently launched the Vortex Energy IV fund, an energy transition fund that has invested in IGNIS, a 20GW leading fully integrated Spanish renewables company and EO Charging, UK’s leading charging solutions provider for fleet and buses. Within Vortex Energy he successfully completed the exit of an operating portfolio of c. 460 MW onshore wind assets in France, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium to funds managed by J.P. Morgan. In addition, he has successfully completed the sale of a controlling stake in a 365 MW operating solar portfolio to Tanaga Nasional in the UK, delivering combined (net) c. 13% IRR and 1.4x MOIC paying cash yields in excess of 5% p.a. to investors. Karim also led the launch of the Egypt Education Platform (EEP), a USD 150 million fund, dedicated to investing in Pre K-12 schools and education services in Egypt, aggregating 25 assets with a total student capacity of 25,000. Other flagship PE deals he led include Nasdaq-Dubai’s USD 445 million take-private of DAMAS International and later its exit, delivering c. 2x MOIC. Karim sits on the Investment Committee of several EFG Hermes’ sponsored funds. He is also a Member of the Board of Directors of various portfolio companies. Prior to joining EFG Hermes, Karim was Vice President at Deutsche Bank’s Global Banking division, with responsibilities across M&As, ECM, and DCM advisory in the MENA region. In this role, he advised on the USD 4.2 billion Dubai Ports World IPO, the USD 670 million sale of Sokhna Port to Dubai Ports World, and the USD 1.4 billion LBO of the Egyptian Fertilizers Company by Abraaj Capital. He joined Deutsche Bank in 2001 as an Analyst in the M&A execution team in Frankfurt, advising on several mid-cap transactions in Continental Europe. He moved to Dubai in 2005 with the CEO of Deutsche Bank MENA to help establish the bank’s regional business. He started his career at Berlin Capital Fund, a venture capital fund managed by Berliner Bank. Karim holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Mechanical Engineering (Diplom Wirtschaftsingenieur) from the Technical University of Berlin.
Bakr Abdel-Wahab
CIO, Vortex Energy
Mr. Bakr Abdel-Wahab joined EFG Hermes in 2011, to lead the infrastructure and energy practice within MENA and Europe and successfully led the establishment of the Vortex Energy Platform which had aggregated a net installed capacity (wind and solar) of 822MW in Europe with AUMs of c. EUR 1.3bn. Mr Abdel-Wahab lead the establishment of Vortex Energy IV, a global energy transition fund based in ADGM (UAE), with a target size of USD 750mn, where it achieved first close on USD 200mn commitments from UAE based sovereign institutions and family offices, among others, in June 2020. Since 2014, Mr Abdel-Wahab has overseen; (i) acquiring a 49% stake of a 334MW onshore wind portfolio in France in a EUR 170mn leveraged buyout, (ii) acquiring a 49% stake in a 664 MW onshore wind portfolio spanning Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and France in a EUR 562mn leveraged buyout, and (iii) acquiring 100% of a 365MW solar portfolio in UK for EUR 552mn. Mr Abdel-Wahab is closely involved in the ongoing value maximization of Vortex’s renewable energy portfolio. Mr. Abdel-Wahab earned a Master of Business Administration from Imperial College Business School London, a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Project Management, and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds.
Ana Peris Caminero
COO, Vortex Energy
Mrs. Ana Peris holds 20+ years of experience in the energy sector. She has gained most of her professional experience in the Naturgy Group, where she held different positions linked to Regulation, Strategy and Business Development. From 2015 to 2020, she held senior management positions in the power generation business, with portfolios sized 14GW conventional and 2.5GW renewable capacity, respectively. She led the Company's transformation and growth in renewables, adding 1GW of new capacity in Spain, over 0.6GW internationally, and configuring more than 5GW of solar & wind pipelines globally. Mrs. Peris has broad experience in M&A in the renewable business, and in 2020 led Naturgy´s entry into the U.S. market through the acquisition of a solar & storage development platform. Prior to Naturgy, Mrs. Peris worked in Eurelectric, the European Association of the Power Industry (Brussels). Mrs. Peris holds a Degree in Business Administration from ICADE University of Madrid, and a European Affairs Diploma from Louvaine-la-Neuve University.
Carl Dandanell
Chairman, Vortex Energy
Mr. Carl Goran Dandanell has gained most of his professional experience in the Vattenfall Group. Over the almost 16 years he spent with the group, he held many senior positions. From 1996-2001, Carl was Senior Vice President and chief development officer of Vattenfall Holdings in the USA. He targeted mainly Hydro assets in LatAm, but also invested in Wind and gas turbines. After two tears at Nuon in Amsterdam, as Chief Growth officer, he re-joined Vattenfall as Head of Business development and M&A for the Nordic region. During 2003-2007, Carl initiated and built up Vattenfall’s substantial wind power portfolio. Carl was also asked to build up Vattenfall’s presence in the UK and lived and worked in London as head of Vattenfall UK during the period 2007-2011. He is currently on the board of directors of Subseamicropilling Ltd in Dublin, Ireland. Carl has held positions with KPMG and Nobel Industries before joining Vattenfall. He holds a master degree in Economics and business administration from the University of Stockholm.