The Founder
Johnny Sleeman
Johnny, founder and managing director of Apiana Partners, brings experience across military leadership, strategy consulting, and operational execution.
He served seven years as an officer in the British Army, leading teams in complex, high-pressure environments and developing deep expertise in leadership, planning, and execution.
He later earned an MBA from INSEAD, where he was introduced to the entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) model and built a strong network across private equity and ETA investors, laying the foundations for Apiana Partners.
Following INSEAD, Johnny joined McKinsey & Company in London, advising clients across defence, telecommunications, consumer, and regulated industries on strategy, commercial transformation, and due diligence. He subsequently held a senior commercial operations role at Formula 1, leading digital transformation initiatives and business model redesigns across global products.
Outside of work, Johnny is a keen amateur sportsman ranging from golf and rugby to fly fishing. He's also a history aficionado with numerous books and podcasts on the go.
Investors and Advisors
Mark McKenzie
Dr Carl Hunter O.B.E.
Dr Carl Hunter O.B.E.
Mark is a recognized leader in the technology industry, enjoying a career spanning almost three decades across Europe, the Americas and most recently Asia Pacific. He began his career in management consulting at Accenture (systems integration consulting) and AT Kearney (IT strategy), and went on to be part of five start-up ventures across a range of technology solution areas, resulting in one IPO and two acquisition exits.
Dr Carl Hunter O.B.E.
Dr Carl Hunter O.B.E.
Dr Carl Hunter O.B.E.
Carl is a recognised leader in British industry and international trade, with a career spanning several decades across manufacturing, research and global export markets. He is Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics, a UK-based global leader in ultrasonic safety technology, and serves as Professor-in-Practice at Durham University Business School. His contributions to business and international trade have been recognised with an O.B.E. and multiple academic and industry honours.
Helena Grau
Dr Carl Hunter O.B.E.
Helena Grau
Helena is an experienced technology and investment leader with over two decades of experience in software, content management, and digital transformation for the construction materials industry. She currently leads a Family Office, focused on creating value through investing in and scaling high-quality businesses. Previously, she helped build and lead Telematel, which was acquired in 2021 by Valsoft Corporation, where she went on to lead product innovation and the Construction Vertical across Southern Europe.
Wayne Exton
Wayne Exton
Helena Grau
Wayne is a CEO with aerospace, defence and automotive industrial experience across businesses ranging from $30M to $1Bn. Brings both Strategic and PE leadership backgrounds, with significant M&A experience on the buy and sell side (transactions from $12M to $250M). Former CEO at Unitech Aerospace, a PE owned tier 1 Aerospace manufacturer providing commercial and defence aircraft secondary structure composite components and systems, metallic alloy nuclear industry components, aerospace engine components and ultra large composite maritime domes. Expert in how primes evaluate, qualify and retain Tier-2 composites suppliers
Ola Lawal
Wayne Exton
Yotam Alroy
Ola has 20 years of experience in Restructuring, Corporate & Investment Banking and Technology sectors. He has expertise covering business and financial management, Mergers & Acquisitions, and change management and transformation. He guides companies to focus on strategic value creation, sustainable scale–up, process and technology innovation, and operational efficiency. He holds a politics degree from the University of Leicester and an MBA from IESE Business School, Spain.
Yotam Alroy
Wayne Exton
Yotam Alroy
Yotam is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader in the flexible workspace and proptech sector, with a career rooted in global business development and innovative workplace solutions. He co-founded Mindspace, one of the world’s leading boutique coworking operators, and serves as its Chief Business Development Officer, helping grow the company’s footprint across Europe, the U.S. and Israel. Prior to Mindspace, Yotam held executive business development roles at Roboteam and SHL Telemedicine and was a partner at AYRAD Investments, a family office focused on high-tech opportunities.