Riccardo is the Founder & Managing Partner of Aurelian Capital Group, bringing a background that spans entrepreneurship, multi-venture exits, and M&A advisory, where he leads firm strategy, deal origination, and client engagements across technology, software, fintech, and industrial innovation.
‍
His experience includes building and exiting multiple companies, assembling a global advisory network with $65B+ in completed transactions, and developing a lean origination-first model that gives founders access to strategic buyers and cross-border capital opportunities typically reserved for larger institutions.
‍
At Aurelian, he works closely with founders and investors to structure transactions, refine strategic positioning, and run competitive processes that maximize value in the lower-middle market.

Hannes brings over twenty years of executive leadership experience, including CEO roles within Allianz Group and the build-out of Sberbank Insurance, where he oversaw multi-billion-dollar business units across Europe, Russia, and emerging markets and led major expansions, restructuring programs, and cross-border initiatives.
‍
His work includes leading international expansions, large-scale restructuring initiatives, and strategic partnerships across diverse regulatory and cultural environments.
‍
At Aurelian, he advises founders and corporates on global growth, cross-border partnerships, and high-impact strategic initiatives that require seasoned leadership and international execution expertise.

Dr. Besanger is an expert in deep tech, finance, and industrial strategy, serving as a long-time consultant to the IMF and Professor of Finance at HEC Paris, and previously directing the IMF’s Singapore subsidiary during the Asian Financial Crisis where he played a significant role in stabilization and regulatory-reform initiatives.
‍
His experience includes contributing to the IPO of one of France’s top five companies, training NATO forces in cybersecurity, financial intelligence, and strategic risk, participating in the European Institute of Innovation & Technology ecosystem, and working fluently across Europe, North America, and Asia in five languages including Mandarin.
‍
At Aurelian, he enhances the firm’s capabilities in deep-tech M&A, complex financial analysis, and global cross-border execution, bridging advanced research with real-world transactional insight.

Rick brings nearly five decades of experience in commercial banking, public finance, and investment banking, with a background that includes senior leadership roles at D.A. Davidson’s healthcare division and extensive work across institutional lending.
‍
His achievements span more than $30B+ in structured financings for hospitals, senior-living operators, and major infrastructure projects, as well as pioneering structured-credit products that expanded fee-based revenue for financial institutions.
‍
At Aurelian, he advises on healthcare finance, structured-debt solutions, and complex recapitalizations, providing seasoned judgment and high-level execution capability for specialized financial situations.

Sebastian brings over 20+ years of European M&A experience across KPMG Corporate Finance, IEG Investment Banking, and his own advisory firms, Argonas and Frontier Capital Partners, where he has led transactions across technology, software, and life-sciences sectors.
‍
His track record includes advising Siemens, Main Capital Partners, Paratus, and other leading European companies, with deep expertise in B2B SaaS, industrial technology, and MedTech, and extensive experience executing cross-border transactions.
‍
At Aurelian, he expands the firm’s European reach and strengthens its capabilities in technology-focused M&A, sector-specific positioning, and international deal execution.

Wilfried is a seasoned investment banker with over 25+ years of experience and more than $30 billion in completed transactions across Europe, Russia, and the CIS region; His track record spans 200+ deals in banking, energy, industrials, mining, and technology, consistently advising leading corporates, financial institutions, and governments on complex cross-border mandates.
‍
He has advised on major divestitures of banking, leasing, and financial subsidiaries across the EU and CEE regions, managed multi-jurisdictional corporate sell-offs for leading Austrian institutions, and led state-linked privatization mandates in Russia and the CIS covering banking, energy, and industrial assets.
‍
At Aurelian, Wilfried enhances the firm’s European execution strength, advising on financial-institution transactions, cross-border divestitures, and strategic corporate exits. His deep network and institutional experience bring a high level of rigor and precision to Aurelian’s mid-market advisory platform.