Fund Finance Association Board Update

We are pleased to share important updates to our Board of Directors. The continued strength of the FFA is driven by the leadership, dedication, and long-standing support of individuals across our global community. We are excited to expand board representation across all regions. 

Following the European Symposium at the end of June, Emma Russell will be stepping down from the FFA Board following more than a decade of leadership and involvement with the organization, including playing a role in helping establish and grow the FFA’s European platform. Emma will continue to serve as Co-Chair of the EMEA Executive Committee and will remain actively involved in supporting the continued development of both the industry and the association across the region. 

Emma was also one of the founding figures behind Women in Fund Finance in Europe and has served as European Co-Chair, helping lead initiatives focused on supporting, developing, and advancing women across the fund finance industry. Under her leadership, the initiative has grown into an important and well-established part of the broader fund finance community. 

Emma is stepping back from the Board to focus on her expanding global leadership responsibilities and client commitments at White & Case LLP, where she serves as Co-Head of the firm’s Global Fund Finance team. 

We are incredibly grateful for Emma’s outstanding contributions and leadership over the years, and for the lasting impact she has made on the FFA and the broader fund finance community. 

Expanding Global Representation 

As the FFA continues to expand globally, we are pleased to welcome five new members to the FFA Board. These appointments reflect the continued growth and evolution of the fund finance market across jurisdictions and bring additional representation across the lender, legal and investment management communities. 

Welcoming New Board Members

-APAC-  

Tom Kirby

Tom Kirby is a Managing Director at Bank of China in Sydney, where he leads the bank’s fund finance business across the region. With more than 25 years of banking experience across HSBC, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Bank of China, Tom has extensive expertise across subscription finance, NAV lending, and asset-based financing for private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and secondary fund managers. 

Tom is widely recognized across the fund finance market for his expertise in deal structuring and execution, strategic client coverage, and longstanding relationships with leading global alternative asset managers and institutional investors. He has a strong track record of delivering tailored financing solutions across multiple asset classes and jurisdictions. 

A member of the FFA APAC Executive Committee, Tom has been an active contributor to industry governance and market development across the region. He brings deep market experience, a strong advisory perspective, and a commitment to supporting the continued growth and evolution of the fund finance industry. 

-EMEA-  

Sabih Hussain  

Sabih Hussain is Head of Capital Markets and a member of the senior leadership team at Corinthia Global Management, where he oversees the firm’s global banking relationships and financing partners. He has more than 23 years of industry experience and previously served as Global Head of Financing at Barings, where he was responsible for arranging, structuring, and executing fund finance transactions across a broad range of strategies. 

Sabih is also a member of the FFA EMEA Executive Committee and has been actively involved in supporting the continued growth and development of the fund finance market across the region. He brings extensive market experience and a strong global perspective to the FFA Board. 

Stuart McIntosh 

Stuart McIntosh is Head of Subscription Finance, EMEA at SMBC, where he focuses on the origination, structuring, and execution of subscription credit facilities across the European market. Based in London, Stuart also works closely with colleagues across SMBC’s global platform to deliver broader financing solutions to private equity sponsor clients. 

Prior to joining SMBC in 2019, Stuart served as European Head of Sponsor Coverage & Fund Finance at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in London. He began his career at HSBC, where he spent 10 years in various investment management client coverage and support roles. Stuart has been an active participant in the fund finance market for many years and brings deep industry knowledge and regional perspective to the FFA Board. 

-US-  

Mike Henry 

Based in Charlotte, Mike Henry is a Managing Director and Head of U.S. Bank’s Subscription Finance group. Mike and his team work with leading financial sponsors to originate, structure, and manage subscription facility commitments across the market. 

Prior to joining U.S. Bank in 2021, Mike spent more than a decade at Wells Fargo across Subscription Finance, Asset-Based Lending, and Leveraged Finance. He earned an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University. Mike brings significant lending experience and longstanding market relationships to the Board. 

Julia Kohen 

Julia Kohen is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Fund Finance Practice, where she represents financial sponsors in connection with debt financings for private equity, real estate, infrastructure, credit, energy, and other investment funds. Her practice focuses on complex fund-level financings designed to support investment activity, including subscription facilities, management lines, and co-investment programs. 

In addition to her legal practice, Julia has co-authored several editions of Global Legal Insights’ Fund Finance guide covering legal trends and developments across the broader market. She was also recognized by Law360 as a “Rising Star” in Banking and is widely regarded as a leading next-generation voice within the fund finance industry. 

We are confident that each of these new board members will bring valuable insight and leadership to the FFA as we continue to support the evolution of the fund finance market, we look forward to working with them and the continued growth and success of the FFA community. 

Sincerely,

FFA Board