Mr. Seyed Mohammad Alizadehfard (Bijan), Co-Founder and Group CEO at the Phoenix Group, is a visionary leader with unparalleled business acumen and expertise within the blockchain ecosystem. Mr. Bijan’s contribution to Phoenix is invaluable, and his vision and perseverance has established Phoenix as a regional and global player in crypto and blockchain industry. Mr. Bijan is also founder of Cypher Capital, a Dubai-based venture firm investing in crypto, blockchain and other digital asset projects. It is widely regarded as a pre-eminent Web3 focused Venture Capital firm in the MENA region and notably recognised globally with its highly successful track record of investments.
Mr. Munaf Ali, Co-Founder and Group Managing Director of the Phoenix Group, is a visionary entrepreneur, and innovator with over 20 years Capital Markets experience (including previous executive banking roles in Citigroup across London and UAE). He has founded and built billion-dollar corporations globally across sectors including Hospitality, Leisure and Blockchain.
As the co-founder and Group Managing Director of Phoenix, Munaf’s contribution towards Phoenix has been invaluable – he has established Phoenix as one of the leading players in the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency arena with mining facilities spanning across UAE, US, Canada, CIS, Europe and the Middle East.
Bill Qian serves as the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Phoenix Group. Before joining Phoenix Group, Bill was the Global Head of M&A and Binance Labs at Binance, the largest global cryptocurrency platform, which held 55% of the global market share and facilitated $34 trillion in transactions in 2021. Prior to his tenure at Binance, Bill was the Head of Investment for Fintech/Tech at JD.COM, a leading Asian internet platform boasting over $400 billion in GMV.
Bill’s career is a testament to his extensive experience and profound understanding of the digital landscape. He has successfully deployed and managed over $20 billion across a diverse range of projects spanning Web1, Web2, and Web3. His unique perspective as a ‘web-native investor’ enables him to identify and support exceptional founders in the Web3 industry.
In addition to his primary role, Bill also serves as the Chairman of Cypher Capital. He is also a board member of the TON Foundation, which oversees the Layer 1 blockchain developed by Telegram, with 900 million monthly active users.
Farah is a highly acclaimed Chief Legal Officer due to her 23 years’ experience in the Middle East where she has been instrumental to the growth and success of prominent development companies including Omniyat, Al Mazaya Holdings (Publicly listed - Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar) and has worked for the region’s most prominent leaders and visionaries which include the Ruler of Dubai and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Farah has been a C – level executive for the regions’ most prominent entities including Engineers Office, Omniyat, Dubai Holding and The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
Farah has led government to government transactions for and on behalf of the Government of Dubai, Government of Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emirate of Ajman and has represented investment and quasi- government entities in the GCC region.
She is known for her strategic, commercial and execution ability, her ability to structure, grow and list billion-dollar entities, motivate and lead strong teams and provide clear and focused legal, strategic, corporate and investment support across all industry sectors.
She is fiercely passionate about Tech, Web3 and a decentralized future. She strongly believes and supports the UAE’s vision to be the global leader in the startup eco-system, Web3, crypto and blockchain and is excited to contribute to this space.
Awards include: 100 Most Influential People in Dubai (Arabian Business 2023 & 2024). 50 Most Powerful Women Leaders (Arabian Business 2024), Inspiring Female Business Leaders (Arabian Business 2022), Women of Influence in the Arab World (CEO Middle East 2021), Future Leaders (Arabian Business Leadership Summit 2023), General Counsel of the Year (Middle East Legal Awards 2020), Woman of the Year (Big Projects Middle East– 2019), Legal CEO of the Year (CEO Middle east 2019), General Counsel of the year (Oath Middle East Legal Awards 2019).
Sher is a seasoned professional with extensive global experience in strategic finance, accounting, audit, and business development. With a career spanning senior C-suite and Director level roles across Europe and the Middle East, Sher has consistently demonstrated expertise and leadership in complex financial environment.
Sher played a pivotal role in the IPO process of Phoenix Group, showcasing his ability to navigate the intricate requirements of public offerings and capital markets. His strategic insight and financial acumen were instrumental in steering the company through a successful transition to a publicly traded entity.
In his role as Group CFO for Europe’s largest hedge fund platform, his tenure was marked by the implementation of innovative financial strategies and rigorous financial oversight, contributing significantly to the platform’s market leadership. Previously, Sher served as a Director at KPMG’s Norwegian Head office in Oslo.
At KPMG, one of the world’s leading accounting firms, he led major audit and consulting projects, delivering high-value solutions to a diverse portfolio of clients within a host of sectors including energy, tech and financial services.
Sher is a Qualified Chartered Accountant from both the Irish and English Institutes and an alumnus of the London School of Economics.
Reza Nedjatian is the Chief Executive Officer at Phoenix Group’s Global Mining Operations. With over a decade of experience in business development and project management, he has been instrumental in driving the success of Phoenix Group’s global mining ventures. His strategic vision and commitment have led to the successful management of mining operations worldwide, particularly in the energy sector.
Reza has a significant track record in leading key strategic initiatives, including the delivery of over 300 MW of power generation projects globally. His leadership has resulted in the record turnkey deliveries of power generation plants, demonstrating his capability to manage complex projects and lead specialist teams effectively. His extensive network within the energy sector, comprising consultants and contractors, allows him to access crucial industry insights, driving innovation and growth in his projects.
Reza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Dubai, which, combined with his business acumen, enables him to approach project leadership with a unique and effective perspective. His passion for the energy sector and extensive experience make him a valuable asset to any project team, fostering alternative thinking and problem-solving skills that ensure successful outcomes.
Carl has a vast array of experience from leading and developing companies both internationally and in the UAE. Carl has joined Phoenix from G42, where he was the co-founder and COO of their Cloud, Data Center and Telecommunications division. Under Carl’s leadership, G42 Cloud has developed a massive infrastructure in a short amount of time. Building the largest AI centric data center in the Middle East region.
Carl has been honored as with the distinguished James T Lynch Award as the top government employee for meritorious service related to superior dedication and key decision making. Carl holds a Master’s Degree from University of Phoenix
Carl will be responsible for managing the overall company’s global operations, driving profitability, creating long-term strategy and enhancing the corporate structure, strategy, and communicating with the board for all Phoenix mining related companies
Lucien Harrington has held several senior leadership roles across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific working for some of the worlds most recognized brands such as Disney and Time Warner and also held leadership roles at global agencies including FutureBrand and Lynxeye where he led teams that created award winning campaigns for brands like Mercedes, Spotify, Alibaba, Nespresso, Geely, Bangkok Bank, Volvo, Qantas, Virgin, Standard Chartered and H&M. Most recently he was Group VP of Brands & Campaigns at Cenomi. Saudi Arabia’s largest retailer and mall operator. He has successfully launched over 30 new brands and businesses and won multiple awards for brand and marketing campaigns.
Kim Wong is the Managing Director and Group Treasurer at Phoenix, where he leads treasury operations, risk management, and strategic capital allocation. With deep expertise in digital asset innovation and investment diversification, Kim has been instrumental in positioning Phoenix as a leader in digital assets.
At M2, Phoenix’s flagship portfolio company, Kim has redefined the active treasury function by focusing on liquidity optimization and strategic asset deployment. He has built a high-performance team and established a resilient operational framework to support a dynamic digital asset exchange, enhancing M2’s adaptability in this rapidly evolving market.
Kim also spearheads M4, Phoenix’s AI-driven fintech venture that empowers retail and social investors. M4 offers cutting-edge AI tools and seamless multi-asset access across crypto, equities, and beyond, providing users with an intuitive, data-rich investment experience.
With a distinguished background at major institutions like Mizuho Securities and Citigroup, Kim combines expertise in structured credit and derivatives with forward-thinking digital finance strategies. He has led high-performing teams across trading, sales, crypto OTC, and market-making, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset with founder experience in the Web3 space. His leadership advances Phoenix’s strategic vision, establishing the firm at the forefront of digital asset finance and market innovation.
Soheib Ghizali is a distinguished business strategist with extensive experience across various industries, particularly in financial services and technology. He currently serves as the Group Head of Investor Relations and Engagement at Phoenix Group.
Known for his commitment to innovation and business process re-engineering, Soheib has effectively led initiatives that transform operational structures and enhance strategic direction. He has been actively engaged in advising companies on IPO listing requirements within UAE capital markets, facilitating listings and capital raises.
His professional insights have made him a sought-after mentor and consultant, particularly for entrepreneurs and startups navigating the complexities of finance, fundraising, and strategic planning. Soheib's global network enables him to frequently connect with other leaders and investors, exchanging insights and fostering industry advancements.
He holds an MBA from Marquette University, USA, and a Master’s degree in Data Science & AI from Metro College of Technology, Canada.