RUSS SILVESTRI
Russell R. Silvestri is Portfolio Manager for SKIRITAI Capital LLC. Russ Silvestri has been actively investing and working in the investment banking and investment management industry for the past 19 years. Prior to forming SKIRITAI, he was a managing and founding partner of Focus Capital LLC. At Focus Capital, he was responsible for the initiation and management of short sales and for the marketing of Focus Capital's partnerships.
From February 1989 to May 1999, Mr. Silvestri worked at Robertson Stephens making partner in 1995. At the time, he was the second youngest partner in the firm's history. As a Managing Director, he led the firm's efforts in the Corporate and Venture Services Group. Under his leadership, the group's revenue grew more than 100% compounded annually and equity assets under management grew to more than $2 billion from less than $20 million. Mr. Silvestri coordinated share repurchases, tender and "shelf" offerings, restricted stock sales of 25 million shares a year, and executed equity derivative transactions in excess of $50 million. He was responsible for building and maintaining the firm's leading market share in venture capital equity distributions. He developed a solid network of relationships with venture capital firms ranging from their general to limited partners.
Prior to active participation with Focus Capital, Mr. Silvestri competed in the America's Cup, racing in New Zealand aboard AmericaOne. Mr. Silvestri has sailed competitively for twenty years in the Finn Class. He won a silver medal in the 1999 Pan Am Games and represented the United States on the 1988 and 2000 Olympic teams. The United States Olympic Committee named him the Outstanding Male Athlete for Sailing in 2000.
Mr. Silvestri has a B.S. from the University of Southern California. He is married with three children.