Calista Direct Investors is the result of my 20+ years of Private Equity investing throughout Europe, with roles at PE/VC funds, family offices and as Head of the LPEA (Luxembourg Private Equity Association) more recently. The common thread throughout my journey has been my passion for entrepreneurship and the potential of private markets to deliver strong, long-term returns to private investors.
Today, as private markets are coming of age, I am proud to bring all my expertise and network to best serve private investors out of Luxembourg, the European hub for PE/VC dealmaking and investing, alongside a team that shares the same values and ethos and brings complementary skills to our clients.
The common thread throughout my journey has been my passion for entrepreneurship and the potential of private markets to deliver strong, long-term returns to private investors.
Who we are
Calista’s network of over 300 families and entrepreneurs provides a rich ecosystem for sourcing deals and sharing insights.
Calista is a disrupter in a heavily intermediated market. We sit alongside the families, as an extension of their investment team, working as their partner. As such, our revenues exclusively come from our investors, and we go further, as we co-invest with them when possible, knowing the investment decision rests with them exclusively.” This approach marks a significant departure from traditional investment models, emphasising alignment and transparency with family office clients.
This approach has resonated with family offices seeking more direct involvement and alignment in their investments. Calista’s network of over 300 families and entrepreneurs provides a rich ecosystem for sourcing deals and sharing insights. In 2023 alone, the firm reviewed over 500 direct investment opportunities and 300 fund opportunities, showcasing the depth of deal flow available to family offices.
At the heart of Calista’s offering is the “Observatoire”, a platform that serves as a lens through which the firm constantly discerns key trends in PE/VC from the perspective of family offices and entrepreneurs. This unique vantage point allows Calista to monitor how investment profiles evolve over time and showcase top trends, sectors, and regions that resonate with their family office clients.
- Former CEO LPEA
- Former Head of PE at Family Office Worked as GP, LP and Co-investor in Europe, Asia and the US
- Advisory Board member of Spuerkeess
- Inspirational Woman in Finance Award 2020
- Top 100 Executive Women Luxembourg
- HEC Grande Ecole (Paris)
- MBA Insead
- Previously chairman of the IAS/Bemberg group- a 125-year-old Family Business investing in Industry and Finance
- Founded and managed Group G, a consulting company dedicated to strategy and organization
- Board of Directors of Château Latour
- International advisory board of Sotheby’s and MoMA (NYC)
- Speaker in various institutions such as INSEAD, the Harvard Club and FBN on topics around family business
- Founder & CEO of Capnor, a Belgium-based single-family office focused on PE/VC
- Chairman of ODE and Medi-Market
- Former investment professional at Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL)
- Former investment banker at Goldman Sachs
- Graduate of the London School of Economics and IE Business School
We are the go-to platform for investors who seek to tackle their private investment exposure with a professional, cost-efficient and fully aligned approach.
The potential of Private Equity and Venture Capital, presents gigantic opportunities but also potentially great risks.
Family offices and private investors increasingly express a strong appetite for this asset class but are quickly confronted with access, valuation, monitoring, and suitability issues.
This is where the business of Calista lies: the team is dedicated to supporting its families to optimise their exposure in this asset class, as their outsourced investment team.
Under the leadership of our Managing Partner, Rajaa Mekouar, the business is going full speed. Clients and employees seem to be seduced by a positioning where the client is at the heart of the business model, more than the investment”.
This is where the business of Calista lies: the team is dedicated to supporting its families to optimise their exposure in this asset class, as their outsourced investment team.
1976August 24, 1976Origins Unveiled: The Birth of the Locket RenaissanceDelve into the resurgence of locket artistry, tracing its revival in the late 20th century and the renewed appreciation for this timeless jewelry form. Explore the pivotal moments and artists that sparked the renaissance of lockets, celebrating their enduring allure.
- September 12, 1992Whispers of Nostalgia: The Sentimental Journey Continues1992
Enter a nostalgic era as we explore the evolving styles and sentimental themes prevalent in lockets during the early 1990s. Discover how lockets became cherished symbols of love, memory, and personal connection in an ever-changing world, leaving an indelible mark on jewelry design.
2019December 24, 2019Beyond Boundaries: Modern Expressions of Locket ArtistryWitness the captivating fusion of tradition and innovation as contemporary artists push the boundaries of locket design. Marvel at the diverse materials, techniques, and unconventional interpretations that redefine the concept of lockets in the 21st century. Experience the evolving art form firsthand.
Executive team
Calista Direct Investors is represented by a professional team with complementary skills and experience across the PE/VC spectrum, with the highest commitment to the task at hand and strongest sense of ethics.
Explore our curated collection of lockets, where craftsmanship and emotion intertwine to create wearable works of art. Uncover the hidden stories and personal connections that make each locket a cherished treasure.
- Former partner and Managing Director in a large regulated multi-family office
- Over 30 years of experience in organization, finance and accounting in the financial sector
- Former COO and CFO at J.P. Morgan Chase in London and Paris
- Former experience in New Models at Allianz Partners
- Corporate M&A and strategic risk at BNP Paribas
- Graduate of HEC Paris Grande Ecole and National Taiwan University
- Formerly in charge of M&A for a major healthcare group under LBO
- Previous experience in PE and M&A at Eurazeo and Clearwater International
- Graduate of ESCP Business School and Sorbonne University
- Previous experience as junior accountant
- Graduate of the University of Luxembourg and Haute Ecole de Namur- Liège-Luxembourg
- IÉSEG School of Management, MSc in Finance
- Previous experience at Investindustrial as Intern Analyst
- Intern at Disney Orlando and KPMG Luxembourg
- Graduate of the London School of Economics and Durham University
- Previous experience in Investment Banking at Silvermile Capital
- Former Intern at Baring Asset Management and ACA Global
- Graduate of IE Business School
- Venture Capital Intern at Proximity Capital
- Undergraduate of Università Bocconi
- Graduate of Università Bocconi
- VC Intern at Vsquared Ventures
- Obloo and Norrsken22
- Business Angel and early-stage investor focused on IT, Proptech and Deeptech European start-ups
- Non-executive director of Eurofins
- Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from University Paris VI and a PhD in Chemometrics from Institut National Paris Grignon
- Founder of Career 3.0, an international Executive & Career Coaching company since 2013
- Past corporate experiences include working as a Strategy Consultant at Deloitte, as a Consultant for a Global Bank, as a Recruitment & Talent consultant for banks in London
- BSc.in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE)
- Advanced Coaching Diploma from The University of Cambridge
- Certificate in NLP and Positive Psychology
- Fluent in English, French, Spanish and Arabic
- Partner at KPMG 2000-2021
- Led the Tax Team of 60 people for more than 10 years
- More than 34 years of professional activity and experience in business and international corporate tax consulting
- Advises major families for their wealth structuring
- Carried out successfully some very important restructuring and merger projects of top 10 major groups worldwide
- Head of Family Office Luxembourg at Stonehage Fleming
- More than 18 years of experience in the estate planning industry and philanthropy sector
- Advises ultra-high net worth private clients and investors on a range of international and domestic estate planning matters
- Former Head of Estate Planning & International Patrimonial Services at Banque Degroof Petercam in Luxembourg
- Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
- Over 35 years of IT experience
- Former Head of IT Architecture & Service Delivery at Luxembourg Stock Exchange
- Constant learner with three IT courses completed in 2020 alone
- Expert in technical support, cybersecurity and data protection
External Partners
