ABOUT US
Vanilla’s directors have a wealth of experience in dealing with customers in the financial sector
CEO, Nicola Walther, is an ex Banker turned entrepreneur. Nicola has over 14 years of experience from the world of banking and finance. She joined Citigroup in 1996 and had a variety of roles within corporate & investment banking, including corporate finance, transaction banking and relationship management.
Nicola’s career at Citi culminated in two senior staff roles, firstly as a Director within the emerging markets executive team and, lastly, as COO for risk in Europe Middle East & Africa. Nicola has an MSc degree from the University of Oxford, where she was awarded a Blue in rowing, and is a qualified member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers, where she sat for two years on the programme committee. She is also a Director of Aquitude, a diversity & people development consultancy, and a passionate supporter of London Youth Rowing, a charity that develops young people through sport.
Non-Executive Director Lukas Kolff is a Private Equity specialist with over 14 years in the financial industry. He is a founding partner of Bowline Capital Partners, an advisory and investment boutique, which also has its own Fund to co-invest in interesting opportunities in both debt and equity. He is formerly a Partner of a leading global Private Equity firm with both equity and (distressed) debt investing experience (Apollo & Ripplewood). Lukas invested over €2.0 billion of equity and debt with 20%+ returns. His 10 years of investment experience spans Telecom, Media and Technology and many other industries in Europe, US and Asia. Prior to Ripplewood, Lukas worked at Morgan Stanley in London. He has a Master’s Degree in Business Economics from Rijks Universiteit Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, where he graduated with highest honors.
