Asset Structuring · Strategic Development · Real Estate Management
With over 28 years in real estate, Valentin is one of the professionals who played a decisive part in developing and modernizing the Romanian market. He led Coldwell Banker Romania, which became the market leader in real estate.
Throughout his career, he has led complex real estate projects in four major regions of the country, working hands-on in asset management, large mixed-use developments, urban regeneration projects, hospitality, PRS, and PaaS. He has led teams across 38 counties and managed thousands of NPL assets and more than 2,000 properties.
Throughout his career, he has led complex real estate projects in four major regions of the country, working hands-on in asset management, large mixed-use developments, urban regeneration projects, hospitality, PRS, and PaaS. He has led teams across 38 counties and managed thousands of NPL assets and more than 2,000 properties.
Mădălin Popescu is a seasoned investment professional with over 25 years in corporate finance, private equity, capital markets, and strategic banking.
He was Senior Investment Manager at ROCA Investments and Head of Corporate Finance at a diversified energy and industrial group, where he led capital raising, M&A transactions, and complex financial strategies.
Within Braintrust, he contributes a solid investor’s perspective and expertise in financial transactions, from structuring bond issues and capital increases to identifying exclusive opportunities. His ability to get investors, banks, entrepreneurs, and shareholders working together makes him a key figure in raising the capital needed for sustainable growth.
ȘF
Ștefan-Alexandru Frangulea
Financial Governance · Capital Strategy · Funding Markets
Since joining Electrica in 2018 as Head of Treasury, Ștefan has led landmark transactions including cross-border financing projects, structured trade finance, sovereign-risk operations, and the company’s Eurobond issue.
He has also held board positions at Electrica’s distribution subsidiaries, at CM Termoenergetica, and at the Danube–Black Sea Navigable Canals Administration.
He is a graduate of ASE Bucharest and holds an Executive MBA from WU Vienna and IEDC Bled School of Management, as well as a Master of Arts in Board Practice and Directorship from Henley Business School. He is President and co-founder of the Romanian Treasurers’ Association (ATR), affiliated with EACT and IGTA.
CO
Cornel Oprișan
Senior Advisor – Retail Strategy and Customer Experience
Cornel Oprișan is a senior retail strategist and organizational transformation consultant with over 30 years of experience in emerging and developed markets. With deep expertise in customer experience, commercial growth, and organizational development, he has led landmark initiatives in retail market entry and multichannel expansion.
He played a central role in launching and expanding IKEA’s operations in Romania and Southeast Europe, including the store openings in Zagreb and Belgrade, the growth of IKEA’s e-commerce presence, and the supervision of global commercial audits across Europe, the US, and China.
As Managing Director of IKEA Romania, he ran a €100 million business with 500 employees. Today he advises retailers through his own programs for commercial growth and customer experience transformation.
GR
Gabriel Radu
Associate Professor (PhD) · Audit · Accounting · ASE Bucharest
Gabriel Radu is an associate professor (PhD) at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE) and a recognized authority on audit and accounting in Romania.
With over 25 years of professional experience and more than two decades in higher education, he has played a major part in training new generations of finance professionals.
He has held leadership positions at major institutions including BRD Asigurări de Viață, CN ROMARM, PIROCHIM, and IOR SA, and served as President of the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors.
As founder of DA.AI Audit & Accounting and an active member of international regulatory bodies, Gabriel combines academic rigor with hands-on expertise to support excellence and integrity in the advisory services Patrimonia+ provides.
DR
Dan Rusu
Corporate Intelligence · Risk Management · Due Diligence
Dan is a leading expert in corporate intelligence, with over 20 years of experience in due diligence, risk management, and strategic support for local and international companies, investment funds, and financial institutions.
He has led complex projects in sectors such as energy, retail, banking and finance, pharma, and oil & gas, helping strengthen business decisions and protect his clients’ reputations.
He joined the Corporate Intelligence Agency team after a career in law enforcement and several years of international cooperation work, during which he handled cross-border cases. He is valued for his analytical rigor and for helping build a culture of integrity and prevention in the business community.
Within Patrimonia+, he brings a unique strategic perspective on risk, reputation, and compliance analysis, supporting governance and decision-making with insights based on verified information.
Otilia is the founder of NOA, with over 17 years of experience in national and international taxation, business consulting on restructurings and M&A, and audit services.
Her career includes a range of roles, among them local expert for the World Bank. She is a member of the Romanian Chamber of Tax Consultants and the Romanian Chamber of Financial Auditors, and holds an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK).
She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Board Practice and Directorship from Henley Business School, University of Reading, and a master’s degree in business law, and earned her undergraduate degrees at both the Bucharest Faculty of Law and the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE).
Within Patrimonia+, she strengthens the team’s expertise in tax structuring, governance, and strategic transformation, helping entrepreneurs align their growth vision with long-term financial discipline.
AR
Alexandru Rusu
Governance · Financing and Capital Structuring · Organizational Transformation
Alexandru Rusu is an executive and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience in organizational leadership, across sectors such as real estate, agriculture, telecom, retail, and digital platforms. He has served as CEO and board member, COO, and CFO, leading complex transformation, growth, and restructuring processes.
Over the course of his career, he has led multi-jurisdictional investment projects, mergers and acquisitions, financing and refinancing structures, and group reorganizations, building integrated mechanisms that connect strategy, capital, and governance.
His approach is asymmetric and entrepreneurial, built on “what if” questions and on the ability to connect different perspectives into pragmatic, innovative solutions. Alexandru promotes clarity, alignment, and strategic accountability, and encourages a culture of collaboration and trust.
As a coach, he helps leaders and organizations develop judgment, resilience, and congruence between values, purpose, and action.
Cătălin Ștefănescu is a financial economist, academic leader, and strategic advisor with over 20 years of experience in finance, real estate, and emerging technologies.
He is currently Academic Director and Clinical Professor at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, where he oversees curriculum development, the teaching faculty, and program innovation, while strengthening industry partnerships and the alumni network.
His career combines top-tier university education in finance and real estate, financial consulting, blockchain strategy, and fintech entrepreneurship. As co-founder and CFO of Bleexy LLC, a blockchain-based startup, he led product development and fundraising through NSF grants.
He has taught at leading US universities including NYU, the University of Tennessee, UNC, Indiana University, the University of Maryland, and American University.
DP
Dragoș Popa
Experienced Banker · Independent Non-Executive Director · Senior Coach
Dragoș Popa is an experienced banker and corporate leader with over 27 years of executive work in banking, serving multinational corporations, public institutions, state-owned enterprises, and large Romanian companies.
He is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Exim Banca Românească and a Founding Partner of QFin Advisory, a firm specializing in business development, corporate finance, and executive coaching.
Dragoș has a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving strategic growth, and closing landmark transactions, including the largest private corporate bond issue in Romania and major mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector.
His experience includes leadership positions at Citibank Romania and roles at Citibank France, where he managed global client relationships and coordinated banking operations across 56 countries. He is certified as a Senior Practitioner and accredited in Team Coaching by EMCC Global, and speaks fluent Romanian, English, and French.