Among its activities, the firm works with fintechs and platforms which originate loans and receivables for borrowers. It represents part of a shift in the way credit and finance is handled in today's increasingly tech-driven sector.

Fasanara Capital, a London-based investment manager, has appointed Fawad Tariq-Khan as managing director, Middle East. Formerly the group CEO of Shuaa Capital, Tariq-Khan will be based in Abu Dhabi.

Tariq-Khan spent 10 years at Shuaa Capital, investing in credit, venture and private equity. That firm became a significant Gulf player with more than $14 billion of assets under management. 

“I’m excited to join Fasanara and work with Francesco and the leadership team to bring the firm’s unique capabilities in private lending to businesses in the Middle East. The scale of Fasanara’s quantitative resources and technology platform are central to driving our success across the region,” he said in a statement. 

Tariq-Khan started his career in London with Deloitte in its advisory business before relocating to Dubai where he helped establish its Middle East debt advisory practice. He holds an MSc in business studies from UCD Smurfit Business School and a BSc in computer science from University College Cork. He also served with the Irish Reserve Defence Forces in the military police.

Fasanara Capital was founded in 2011 and manages strategies totalling $4.5 billion. This news service spoke to Fasanara’s founder and CEO, Francesco Filia, about its business model. Filia is something of a thought leader as well as a financial services figure. With his colleague Daniele Guerini, he has published a recent book, The Future of Finance: The Rising Tide of Fintech Lending and the Platform Economy. The book delves into how digital lending and fintech affect business and consumer finance.

Among its areas of activity – such as fintech-originated private asset credit strategies – the firm works with fintechs and platforms which originate loans and receivables for borrowers. Fasanara buys packages of these debt contracts, usually with an average maturity of no more than three months.