Founder
Paul Dolan
Founder, Kizuna PMI Limited
Twenty-five years in global financial markets across London, Hong Kong and Tokyo, then six years as chief executive and chairman.
Biography
Paul Dolan spent more than twenty-five years in global financial markets in senior positions with Nomura, DE Shaw and Barclays, based variously in London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. At Nomura, he built and managed the global convertible bond business and went on to serve as joint head of equities for Asia Pacific, a role that placed him inside a Japanese institution, reporting into a Japanese board, for almost a decade.
He then moved from markets into operating leadership, serving as chief executive and later chairman of a UK listed international group. That period gave him the other half of the perspective Kizuna PMI is built on: what it is to be the executive receiving the board's and the shareholders' questions, often several time zones from where they are asked.
Kizuna PMI exists because both halves of that career turned out to be the same job. Kizuna PMI brings the two together. The firm advises Japanese chairmen and boards on the integration of the UK and European businesses they have acquired, independently, discreetly, and at the level where integration decisions are actually made.
Background
Present
Founder, Kizuna PMI Limited
Independent post-merger integration advice to Japanese acquirers in the UK and Europe.
2016 to 2022
Chief executive, later chairman, listed international group
Operating leadership of a London-listed international group. Board, investor and government facing throughout.
2003 to 2012
Nomura
Global head of convertible bonds, managing teams in Europe, Asia and the US. Became joint head of Asia Pacific equities, managing teams across Asia, including Japan. Based initially in London, then Hong Kong with regular trips to Japan.
1987 to 2003
DE Shaw, ING and Barclays
Senior positions across equity derivatives and convertible bonds, based in London and Tokyo.
Experience relevant to this work
Inside Japan and a Japanese institution
Years spent living in Tokyo while at Barclays, and working within Nomura reporting into Japanese management. The cultural fluency is from first-hand experience, not observed.
Board and chief executive experience
Chief executive and chairman of a listed company, and a substantial shareholder in it. He has been the executive with responsibility for creating and executing strategy, accountable to the board of directors and shareholders.
Multicultural operating leadership
Leadership of international teams across Asia, Europe and the US, in businesses where the head office and the operations did not share a common language.
Governance and capital
Corporate governance, capital allocation and financial risk at listed-company level, with boards, investors and governments.
Partner
David Rothschild
Partner, Kizuna PMI Limited
International multi-sectoral expertise in strategy, operations, growth and turnarounds, M&A, due diligence and integration. In a career spanning Europe, USA, Africa, Japan and Australia, David has been a consultant (McKinsey & Co, Partners in Performance and independent), founder and principal of a private equity firm, a senior executive and a board director.
Biography
David Rothschild has delivered results across a range of industries in finance, private equity, industrials, IT, healthcare and resources. At McKinsey & Co, working across New York, the Benelux, France, Japan and Australia, he advised transnationals on M&A transactions, including a leading Japanese corporate. Across his career he has undertaken commercial due diligences and pre- and post-merger support.
He transitioned from consulting into senior operational roles, initially as chief executive of the regional branch of an international online stockbrokerage in South Africa. In 2009 he co-founded Golden Veroleum Liberia, with a leading Indonesian agricultural group. As COO and Board Director, he scaled a greenfield operation to 16,500 hectares and 3,700 employees. At an AIM-listed forestry and timber company, he was an independent non-executive director and latterly CEO, where he initiated strategic M&A discussions.
At Kizuna PMI he leverages his expertise for Japanese chairmen and boards. He brings an operator’s knowledge that deals are signed by boards but delivered by the people who run the business.
Background
Present
Partner, Kizuna PMI Limited
Consulting advisory to Japanese chairmen and boards on integrating the UK and European businesses they acquire. Partnered with a large Asian company in a significant African project.
2021 to 2024
Independent non-executive director, then CEO, international listed group
AIM-listed company, board advisory and operational leadership.
2009 to 2016
Co-founder, COO and Board Director, Golden Veroleum Liberia
Greenfield oil palm operation, scaled to 16,500 hectares and 3,700 employees with a leading Indonesian funder and technical partner.
2002 to 2009, 2017 to 2021
Independent consultant
Between executive roles, consulting on strategy, operational improvement and due diligence in the UK, Africa and Australia.
1999 to 2001
CEO, international online stockbrokerage
Launched and ran the South African operation.
1997 to 1999
Co-founder, partner and Board Director, Praxis Capital
African-focused private equity fund, focused primarily on healthcare.
1987 to 1997
Consultant, McKinsey & Company
Engagements in New York, the Benelux, France, Australia and Japan, including an assignment in Tokyo.
Experience relevant to this work
Senior consulting in strategy, operational improvement and value creation
Ten years with McKinsey & Company in New York, the Benelux, France, Australia and Japan, then operational improvement work with Partners in Performance and as an independent consultant.
Work for Japanese clients acquiring international businesses
An assignment based in Tokyo for a leading Japanese company: researching the Australian meat market, shortlisting targets and assisting in the acquisition of a food supplier. For the same client, supported the development of a partnership with a New Zealand food supplier. A strong focus on economic value creation throughout.
Executive leadership as CEO and COO
Chief executive of an AIM-listed forestry and timber company, and of the South African operation of an international online stockbrokerage. COO of Golden Veroleum Liberia, from greenfield to 16,500 hectares and 3,700 employees.
Due diligence and pre- and post-merger integration
Commercial due diligence and pre- and post-merger support throughout his career, beginning with M&A work for transnational clients at McKinsey.
Private equity
Co-founder, partner and board director of Praxis Capital, an African-focused private equity fund investing primarily in healthcare.
Board directorship
Board director of Golden Veroleum Liberia and Praxis Capital, and independent non-executive director of an AIM-listed group.