Our Team.

Renee focuses on investments in sustainable agriculture and forestry in the United States and around the world. Prior to joining New Island Capital, she founded and led Bonterra Partners, an investment consulting firm specializing in sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and other natural capital investments in Latin America and other parts of the world, and worked as private equity executive at RIT Capital Partners PLC and Pantheon Ventures. Renee received a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Management of Science & Engineering from Stanford University. She enjoys exploring unknown places with family, listening to classical music, and learning from farmers.

Alex focuses on diligence, structuring, and portfolio management for the Private Credit team. Prior to New Island Capital, Alex was at the United States International Development Finance Corporation where he worked on loan execution, asset management and restructuring for transactions across a multitude of sectors and geographies. He also previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of The Gambia. Alex holds an MA in International Economics and Finance from American University and a BA from University of California, Berkeley. In his personal time, you can find Alex exploring his passions for music, food, and the great outdoors.

Paul Cutillo focuses on investment execution and portfolio management for the Liquid Assets team. Prior to joining New Island Capital, he worked in derivative sales primarily marketing equity volatility products and cross-asset quantitative investment strategies. Paul received a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, an MA in International Economics and Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and is a CFA charterholder. In his free time, Paul enjoys running, hiking, and attempting to win the New Yorker cartoon caption contest.

Krishnakshi (Kris) Das serves as in-house counsel at New Island Capital, advising on the firm’s investment transactions and operations. Prior to joining New Island Capital in 2021, Kris advised senior management at institutional investment firms and private equity firms for over 10 years, beginning her career as a corporate attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and later serving as Executive Director at Morgan Stanley. In addition, Kris was awarded a Public Interest Law Initiative Fellowship to work at The Grameen Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting micro-finance institutions globally. Kris holds a JD from The George Washington University Law School and an AB in Economics from Harvard College. Kris serves on the board of the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization awarding fellowships to law students for public interest work benefiting the Northern California community. Kris also enjoys hiking, reading, cooking, traveling and (as a Bay Area transplant) visiting friends and family on the east coast.

Lisa leads organizational development and operations at New Island Capital, including financial services and reporting, administration, human resources, and information technology.  She has over twenty-five years of experience in international development, operations, management, and law.  Prior to New Island Capital, Lisa held an executive operations position at an international non-profit focused on land rights advocacy and legal policy reform.  She holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. When she isn’t talking about process and efficiency, Lisa can be found planning her next sun-filled vacation, walking by the Bay, or trying out new restaurants.

Rahfin supports investment execution and portfolio management for the Private Equity team. He previously worked in technology investment banking at JP Morgan, advising clients on M&A and financing transactions. Rahfin is a Marshall and Harry S. Truman Scholar and holds a BA in each of Economics, Political Science, Public Policy and Religious Studies from Southern Methodist University, an MSc in Development Finance from the University of Reading, and an MBA from the University of Oxford. In his free time, Rahfin enjoys watching Dallas sports, searching for good tacos, and roasting and brewing coffee.

Audrey supports loan execution and portfolio management for the Private Credit team. Prior to her work at New Island Capital, Audrey underwrote credit products across a variety of borrowers, including Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) during her time with Wells Fargo and large-cap technology companies with Bank of America. Audrey holds a BS from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Outside of work, Audrey spends most of her time using food to cultivate community, a sentimental way of saying “doing a lot of dishes.”

Dingli is responsible for New Island Capital’s liquid investment strategy, with a focus on identifying and managing impact-aligned opportunities in short-duration asset classes and the public markets. Prior to joining New Island Capital, Dingli was a portfolio manager at ArrowMark Partners, a $18 billion alternative investment firm.  Dingli has been a buy-side investor for more than fifteen years, and has actively invested in a wide array of asset classes including public equities, public credit, leveraged loans, and structured products.  Dingli holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management as well as a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was named a Siebel Scholar in 2006.  In her free time, Dingli enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family.

Hans supports investment execution and portfolio management for the Real Estate team. Previously, Hans was at PGIM Real Estate, a $179 billion global real estate manager, where he focused on acquisitions and asset management of multiple property types, and subsequently at Equity Residential, a $21 billion apartment real estate investment trust (REIT), where he was involved in sustainable developments. Hans holds a BA from Wesleyan University. In his free time, Hans enjoys running, hiking, and watching the Great British Bake Off.

Parren manages New Island Capital’s real estate portfolio. In past roles, Parren was involved in large commercial office, industrial and multifamily real estate developments, and has worked in asset management, acquisitions and portfolio management roles for MetLife Investment Management, MacFarlane Partners, and a Chicago-based family office. Parren holds an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a BS in Mathematics from Hampton University. Parren is an active community participant and has served on the Board of Directors of Erasing The Distance, a non-profit focused on mental health awareness, and Aurum Preparatory Academy, a charter school focused on improving educational outcomes in East Oakland.

Alycia provides legal support for New Island Capital’s investment activities and general corporate matters. Prior to New Island Capital, Alycia was Chief Legal Officer & Head of Debt Funds at SunFunder, where she structured impact investment funds focused on scaling solar energy in emerging markets. Alycia holds a JD from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in human rights and democratization from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, and a BA in political science from Yale University. Alycia enjoys running around Lake Merritt most mornings and supporting Oakland public schools and businesses as a volunteer with Equity Allies for OUSD and the Oakland Black Business Fund.

Eric focuses on diligence, structuring, and portfolio management for the Private Equity team. Prior to New Island Capital, Eric was at Partners Group, an $80 billion investment firm, where he focused on control and joint-control private equity transactions, and subsequently at Lateral Investment Management, a $400 million investment firm focused on providing growth capital for family-owned, owner-operated businesses. Eric holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA, summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis. Outside of work, Eric enjoys road trips, remote hikes, and other escapes from the city every now and then.

Clarissa ensures smooth office operations at New Island Capital while also providing administrative support to multiple team members. In past roles, Clarissa supported the Behavioral Health Department in Monterey County, served in AmeriCorps, and coordinated events in San Francisco.  She holds a BA in Geography and Environmental Resource Management from San Francisco State University. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

John manages the legal function at New Island Capital, providing strategic and tactical legal advice with respect to investment transactions of all types. John has practiced law in large firms and in-house for more than 25 years, focusing primarily on investments in private equity, venture capital, and private credit. John holds an LLM from Kiel University in Germany, a JD and an MBA from the University of Virginia, and a BA from Yale University. John is a dual U.S./French citizen (through marriage) and a former ultradistance cyclist with a passion for camping, skiing, and hiking as well as biking.

Paul employs real estate impact investment strategies at New Island Capital to improve the quality, resilience, and vitality of our communities as well as our overall planetary health. Paul was formerly the Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy; the former President of an east coast brownfields redevelopment company; a Principal at a development firm that specializes in affordable housing, adaptive reuse, and historic restorations; as well as an executive with a developer of highly sustainable single-family homes in San Francisco. Paul holds a Master of Urban Planning and Real Estate Finance from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of Toronto. In his personal time, Paul makes the most out of living in close proximity to the trails and waterways of Marin County.

Christian focuses on investment execution and portfolio management for the Real Assets team. Prior to joining New Island Capital, Christian worked as an investment analyst at a $12 billion endowment based in the Hawaiian Islands and subsequently as a research associate at Brandes Investment Partners, an $18 billion investment firm focused on value investing in public equities. Christian holds a BBA, summa cum laude, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Outside of work, Christian enjoys hiking, finding hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and planning his next trip back to Hawaii.

Mike provides financial reporting and investment tracking services for New Island Capital’s investment activities. Prior to New Island Capital, Mike was the controller of a family office and a fund accountant for Hellman and Friedman LLC. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. Mike serves as Treasurer and on the Board of Directors of Supplybank.org, a non-profit that uses the food bank model to distribute materials such as school supplies, diapers, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to underserved communities. In his free time, Mike enjoys backpacking, barbecuing, and British baking shows.

As Real Assets Manager, Lesley focuses on investments and post-investment management in sustainable agriculture and forestry in the United States. In previous roles, she worked in research, investment, business development and strategy in agriculture, as well as in acquisitions and business development in timber. Lesley received an MBA and MS in Agriculture and Land Use from Stanford University, and a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from University of California, Berkeley. In her spare time, she enjoys surfing, traveling, cooking, and backpacking.

Kwame is responsible for providing legal and transactional support across all of New Island Capital’s asset classes and transaction types. Kwame has served as a paralegal since 2000, working with companies such as Home Depot, Ross Dress for Less, and Nestlé. Before transitioning to New Island, Kwame ran the contracts department for Brightsource Energy. Kwame attended California State University, Long Beach and the Paralegal Studies program at California State University, East Bay. Outside of work, Kwame enjoys spending time with his wife, playing golf, and being an avid aquarist.

Shelley joined the New Island Capital team in April 2013 as the office’s Front Desk Assistant. Now, as Operations Manager, it is her responsibility to keep the office running smoothly and the team well-fed. Her days are spent supervising the Operations team, managing vendor relations, supporting recruiting efforts, conducting Accounts Payable, leading special events, and most recently assisting in the design and remodel of the new office space in San Francisco. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. When Shelley is not at the office, you can find her exploring new bars and restaurants, baking, or burning off her findings at the gym and local hiking trails.