verifiable
impact
investing
engagement
[VÌMINE]: ITALIAN NOUN
English translation: Withy – Osier – Wicker
Properties: withy has many of the qualities desirable in an investment portfolio: It is sustainable, resilient, strong, environmentally-friendly and, when braided and shaped by expert hands, profitable.
Origin: Latin: vimen -ĭnis, from di viēre ‘to knot, to braid’, XIV century
A global experience
Vivina Berla, Vimine Holding CEO & Founder
After a first career spent in the steel industry across Latin America, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Vivina went back to school in the US where she transitioned to the financial industry. In 2011, having spent over 20 years in the institutional investment world, she combined her experience and a desire for positive change to focus on investing to achieve net positive social & environmental outcomes. The Sustainable Development Goals provide the framework within which Vivina works to build profitable portfolios and a better world. Going forward, Vimine will broaden the scope of its activities from private equity in Emerging Markets to include multiple asset classes globally and the creation of innovative and collaborative product structures.
In 2011, Vivina founded Vimine Holding and became co-managing partner of Sarona Asset Management, a Dutch/Canadian private equity firm linking investors‘ capital to entrepreneurs’ needs in Frontier and Emerging Markets. She opened Sarona’s European office in 2011 and co-led the global growth of the firm till January 2018.
During her ten years with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers she was responsible for a variety of investors and products across Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Pacific Region. After leaving her position as Managing Director, Private Equity Partners in 2004, Vivina joined Gartmore Investment Management, as Head of Institutional Business, Europe and Middle East. In July 2009 she moved to Amsterdam and worked for two years with a privately owned company focusing on credit strategies.
Vivina graduated from the London School of Economics and obtained an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in the US. She has been a mentor for the “Business Start-Up” programme for the Prince’s Trust and, after 13 years in a variety of governance roles, is now an LSE Emeritus Governor.