OUR VISION

Downtown Ventures’ business activities are driven by experience, expertise and excellent teamwork.

We know how to respond quickly and effectively, seizing opportunities as they arise, coming up with innovative ways to make improvements, and keeping up with a constantly changing, dynamic market. Integrity and a sense of responsibility to the local and global communities in which we operate are important to us.

We build trust and seek to be a force for good, developing businesses that are not only profitable for our partners, but have a positive social impact, too. And we aim to give back by contributing our know-how to business mentoring and education to pass on the knowledge, skills and experience that will take businesses to the next level.

OUR INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY

Investing for the long term is at the heart of our approach to partnerships.

PARTNERING FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH

We believe in establishing long-lasting relationships with our business partners, built on mutual respect and loyalty. When core values and objectives are in alignment to the benefit of partnership and customers alike, the results soon speak for themselves.

COMPLEMENTING OUR CULTURE

Driven by a robust code of ethics and sense of responsibility, we invest in businesses that share our values and care about the social impact of their activities. Our partnerships focus on community as much as profitability, and they value people equally, whether within or outside our organisation.

LEVERAGING OUR LEGACY

With more than 40 years’ experience in developing businesses worldwide, including key markets such as the Middle East, India and UK, we have a substantial network that gives us extensive market access. Our track record in strategic investment has given us recognized expertise in collaborative business-to-business deals.

SUPPORTING MANAGEMENT TEAMS

When we invest in a partnership, we commit to so much more than a purely financial agreement. Nurturing talent and developing skills, facilitating speed and agility, and inspiring great teamwork, are all part of the support we bring to management teams, both new and already established.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Sanjeev Nanda

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Murugan Sankaran

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Brandon Joseph

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

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A versatile and experienced business leader, Sanjeev Nanda studied finance and economics at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA, obtaining a B.Sc(Econ); he followed this with an MBA from INSEAD in Paris. His credentials include running large, successful organisations spanning a number of sectors, including hotels and hospitality, IT, heavy engineering, and the food & beverage industry. He is an acknowledged expert in negotiating alliances and business deals with global brands, as well as leading and executing large investments.

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Having spent 30 years in banking, Murugan Sankaran specializes in the development life cycle of industrial projects (project identification, feasibility study, viability analysis) in GCC and MENA. Over the last seven years he has raised more than $1.50 billion in capital. An expert in project structuring for BOOT and PPP models, he was instrumental in setting up the first PPP project with Dubai Government Capabilities. His skill sets include Debt Syndication, M&A Advisory, private equity fundraising and project advisory.

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Brandon Joseph is responsible for co-overseeing the strategic growth of the group and assisting with managing its existing portfolio of assets, investments and companies. His role includes increasing revenue either through organic or inorganic growth strategies, boosting profitability, and controlling costs. His key areas of focus are the hospitality business, FinTech, food & beverages, technology, real estate, healthcare, and engineering. He carries around 20 years’ leadership experience and has a strong background in PE, VC, research & analytics, and investment banking.

Anuj Sharma

GROUP CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER

Mohammed Al Ali

ADVISOR

Marianne Shumaker

DIRECTOR CORPORATE AFFAIRS

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A chartered accountant, Anuj Sharma’s core competencies include finance management, quality accounting and internal auditing, working-capital management, treasury functions, corporate governance, and MIS reporting. He plays a key role in the early stages of investment, building on established relationships as well as participating in due diligence processes for investment and fund management. He also oversees the development of financial systems, using financial data to influence operational decision-making and strategy, as well as define areas for the group’s future growth.

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Mohamed Al Ali’s vast experience contributed to his success as an entrepreneur and management professional. Having started with Downtown Investment in 2014, his many functions include facilitating communications between the organisation and several government agencies; analysing the market and competitor behaviour; mitigating threats to the business by carrying out risk analysis; and implementing business strategies to improve efficiency in operational management and optimise competence and productivity.

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With expertise honed over more than a decade of developing and strengthening management teams, Marianne Shumaker works with the Managing Director to organise the day-to-day operations of the executive office. She is responsible for the implementation of corporate strategies, tracking business results, and monitoring the management team’s KPIs. Her role further includes providing high-level business support, corresponding investment theses, and asset allocation, as well as representing the management in negotiations and at public events.

Sanjeev Nanda

MANAGING DIRECTOR

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A versatile and experienced business leader, Sanjeev Nanda studied finance and economics at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA, obtaining a B.Sc(Econ); he followed this with an MBA from INSEAD in Paris. His credentials include running large, successful organisations spanning a number of sectors, including hotels and hospitality, IT, heavy engineering, and the food & beverage industry. He is an acknowledged expert in negotiating alliances and business deals with global brands, as well as leading and executing large investments.

Murugan Sankaran

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

READ MORE

Having spent 30 years in banking, Murugan Sankaran specializes in the development life cycle of industrial projects (project identification, feasibility study, viability analysis) in GCC and MENA. Over the last seven years he has raised more than $1.50 billion in capital. An expert in project structuring for BOOT and PPP models, he was instrumental in setting up the first PPP project with Dubai Government Capabilities. His skill sets include Debt Syndication, M&A Advisory, private equity fundraising and project advisory.

Brandon Joseph

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

READ MORE

Brandon Joseph is responsible for co-overseeing the strategic growth of the group and assisting with managing its existing portfolio of assets, investments and companies. His role includes increasing revenue either through organic or inorganic growth strategies, boosting profitability, and controlling costs. His key areas of focus are the hospitality business, FinTech, food & beverages, technology, real estate, healthcare, and engineering. He carries around 20 years’ leadership experience and has a strong background in PE, VC, research & analytics, and investment banking.

Anuj Sharma

GROUP CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER

READ MORE

A chartered accountant, Anuj Sharma’s core competencies include finance management, quality accounting and internal auditing, working-capital management, treasury functions, corporate governance, and MIS reporting. He plays a key role in the early stages of investment, building on established relationships as well as participating in due diligence processes for investment and fund management. He also oversees the development of financial systems, using financial data to influence operational decision-making and strategy, as well as define areas for the group’s future growth.

Mohammad Al Ali

ADVISOR

READ MORE

Mohamed Al Ali’s vast experience contributed to his success as an entrepreneur and management professional. Having started with Downtown Investment in 2014, his many functions include facilitating communications between the organisation and several government agencies; analysing the market and competitor behaviour; mitigating threats to the business by carrying out risk analysis; and implementing business strategies to improve efficiency in operational management and optimise competence and productivity.

Marianne Shumaker

DIRECTOR CORPORATE AFFAIRS

READ MORE

With expertise honed over more than a decade of developing and strengthening management teams, Marianne Shumaker works with the Managing Director to organise the day-to-day operations of the executive office. She is responsible for the implementation of corporate strategies, tracking business results, and monitoring the management team’s KPIs. Her role further includes providing high-level business support, corresponding investment theses, and asset allocation, as well as representing the management in negotiations and at public events.