Our Founders
Exceptional leadership with deep and diversified experience in Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, Transaction Advisory, Strategic Business Consulting, M&A and Investor Relations
Hiranya Ashar
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Hiranya Ashar has about 20 years of experience in managing strategic, tactical and operational aspects of financial management and capital raising. He has raised above Rs.12,000 crs (USD$1.8bn) over the last 15 years in various forms of equity and debt capital such as GDR, FCCBs, Bonds, bank loans, etc. He has successfully executed 15+ Cross Border M&A transactions with a total value exceeding USD 300Mn.
Prior to this he has worked as the Joint Managing Director and Group CFO at one of the Indian multinational IT company and was also a Partner at one of the large Audit and Assurance firms in India. He has been a creative problem solver with a track record of formulating and implementing financial strategies needed to boost the growth and raise capital to support business needs.
Hiranya was awarded CFO 100 roll of honor for “Exceptional contribution to Corporate Finance” by CFO India in 2013, 2015 and 2016. He was also awarded one of the “Most Influential CFOs” in 2015 by CIMA and “CFO of the Year” at Corporate Excellence Awards 2013 by Asian Confederation of Businesses.
Hiranya is a Commerce Graduate and a Chartered Accountant (CA) from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Neville Fernandes
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Neville is a corporate finance specialist with over 20 years of experience in originating, structuring and executing, financing and advisory solutions, across the capital structure. Prior to co-founding Axcelus, Neville worked at Citibank India for 20 years, across roles in Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Banking, with India leadership roles in Capital Markets Origination and Acquisition & Leveraged Finance.
Clients acknowledge Neville for his strength in providing tactical and strategic advice across financing markets and for different strategic objectives. As Head of Debt Capital Markets at Citibank India, Neville executed several landmarks, market-defining transactions across investment grade and high yield bonds, onshore and offshore acquisition financing, masala bonds, perpetual hybrid securities, restructurings, liability management, mezzanine financing, preference shares and ratings advisory.
While at Citibank India, Neville has raised over USD 125 billion across 200+ financing and advisory transactions, making him one of the most experienced corporate finance bankers in India. Neville is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics from the University of Mumbai.