Top CFOs is pleased to announce The Top 25 Technology Investment Bankers of 2022. This year’s awardees have an expertise rooted deep in industry knowledge. They are accomplished technology and software-focused investment bankers providing financing, M&A advisory and strategic advisory services to growth-stage and established companies. They have completed countless transactions for clients across various sub-sectors including SaaS, cybersecurity, and internet, among other related areas. Their keen insights as well as their relationships and personal connections within the industry help form the foundation of their success in guiding their clients.
Among this year’s awardees is Tammy Kiely, Partner and Co-Head of Technology Investment Banking with Goldman Sachs, who was one of the advisers to Qualcomm Inc. as it explored a $117bn deal with Broadcom Ltd. in 2018. Awardee David Chen, Head of Global Technology Investment Banking for Morgan Stanley, has advised on M&A transactions including the $1.7bn sale of J.D. Edwards to PeopleSoft, $7.7bn sale of McAfee to Intel, and the $1.3bn sale of AVG to Avast. Also awarded is Yogesh Amle, Managing Director & Head of Software Investment Banking for Credit Suisse, who has been involved in a number of high-profile transactions in the software space including deals such as Dell International’s spinoff of VMWare Inc. and Thoma Bravo’s take-privates of Proofpoint and RealPage.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 25 Technology Investment Bankers of 2022.
1. Tammy Kiely
Partner & Co-Head of Technology Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs
Tammy Kiely is a Partner and the Co-Head of Technology Investment Banking with Goldman Sachs. She has over 25 years of experience primarily focused on technology industry finance and strategic transactions. Her specialties include mergers and acquisitions, financings, and anti-raid/activism defense with extensive cross border experience.
Before joining Goldman Sachs, Kiely was in the finance department at PDI / Dreamworks. Earlier in her career, she worked with KPMG as a supervising senior accountant. Kiely graduated from Stanford University Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
2. Andrew Dahle
Managing Director of Software Investment Banking, J.P. Morgan
Andrew Dahle is the Managing Director of Software Investment Banking with J.P. Morgan. J.P. Morgan is a global leader in financial services with assets of $2.6 trillion and operations worldwide, offering solutions to clients in more than 100 countries with one of the most comprehensive global product platforms available. It has been helping its clients, and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, to do business and manage their wealth for more than 200 years. Dahle has 17 years of experience. He began his career in 2005.
Before joining JP Morgan, Dahle was a managing director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and before that, an executive director of technology investment banking at J.P. Morgan. Earlier in his career, he worked with Technology Venture Partners as an analyst. Dahle graduated from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management with an undergraduate degree in finance, and economics.
3. Mark Dolins
Managing Director & Global Head of Technology Group, Lazard
Mark Dolins is a Managing Director and the Global Head of the Technology Group with Lazard. He first joined the firm in 2007. Lazard, one of the world's preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms, operates from more than 40 cities across 25 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and South America. With origins dating to 1848, the firm provides advice on M&A, strategic matters, restructuring and capital structure, capital raising and corporate finance, as well as asset management services to corporations, partnerships, institutions, governments and individuals. Its well-known M&A group has advised on some of the largest, most complex M&A deals of the past 100 years.
Previously, Dolins was a managing director at Cowen and Company, and before that, a head of business development at shoes.com. Earlier in his career, he worked with Nutter as an associate. Dolins earned a JD from Duke University School of Law and an undergraduate degree in history from Denison University.
4. David Chen
Head of Global Technology Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley
David Chen is the Head of Global Technology Investment Banking with Morgan Stanley. He first joined the firm in 2014 as global head of software banking. With over twenty years of investment banking experience, he has advised some of the most disruptive technology companies on their financial and strategic objectives. Chen has had the privilege of advising on key transactions including the direct listings for Palantir and Slack and IPOs for Salesforce.com, NetScreen Technologies, Palo Alto Networks, and FireEye, among others.
Chen first got his start in 1998 as an associate director at UBS Investment Bank. He earned an undergraduate degree in biology from Stanford University.
5. Herb Yeh
Senior Managing Director of Software & Technology Investment Banking, Evercore
Herb Yeh is the Senior Managing Director of Software and Technology Investment Banking with Evercore. Evercore is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. They are dedicated to helping clients achieve superior results through trusted independent and innovative advice on matters of strategic significance to boards of directors, management teams and shareholders, including M&A, strategic shareholder advisory, restructurings, and capital structure. Evercore also assists clients in raising public and private capital and delivers equity research and equity sales and agency trading execution, in addition to providing wealth and investment management services to high-net-worth and institutional investors. Founded in 1995, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and affiliate offices in major financial centers in North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. Yeh has 35 years of experience. He began his career in 1987.
Before joining Evercore, Yeh was a global co-head of technology investment banking, and vice chairman of banking, capital markets, and advisory at Citi, and before that, a managing director of technology investment banking at Bank of America. Earlier in his career, he worked with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as an associate in corporate and securities law. Yeh graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a JD and an undergraduate degree in economics.
6. Ryan Nolan
Partner, Managing Director & Co-Global Head Software Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs
Ryan Nolan is a Managing Director in the Technology, Media and Telecom Group and Global
Co-Head of Software in the Investment Banking Division with Goldman Sachs. He advises companies on a broad range of transactions, including M&A, initial public offerings, debt and equity financings and activism defense. Nolan joined Goldman Sachs in 2012 and was named managing director in 2015 and partner in 2020.
Prior to joining the firm, Nolan was a senior associate at Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLP. He is a member of the board of directors of the PBS Foundation and the Global Leadership Council at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Nolan earned an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame, a JD from the Duke University School of Law, and an MBA from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business.
7. Steve Pettigrew
Managing Director & Co-Head of Software Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Steve Pettigrew began his professional career 25 years ago. Today, he is a Managing Director and the Co-Head of Software Investment Banking for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the investment management and wealth management division of Bank of America.
Pettigrew first got his start in 1997 in metals and mining investment banking at Deutsche Bank. From there, he went on to Citi as managing director of software investment banking, his most recent position prior to joining Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Pettigrew graduated from Queen's University with an undergraduate degree in engineering.
8. Sam Shah
Co-Head of Capital & Global Head of Software & Services Investment Banking, Macquarie
Sam Shah is the Co-Head of Capital and Global Head of Software & Services Investment Banking for Macquarie, a global financial services group operating in 33 markets in asset management, retail and business banking, wealth management, leasing and asset financing, market access, commodity trading, renewables development, specialist advisory, capital raising and principal investment. A pioneer in project finance, Macquarie’s infrastructure and energy capital team develop and invest in infrastructure and energy projects and companies, with a focus on transport, social and digital infrastructure. It also provides specialist expertise in complex transactions and emerging markets and opportunities. Shah has 16 years of experience. He began his career in 2006.
Before joining Macquarie, Shah was a managing director at Credit Suisse. He graduated from Tufts University with an undergraduate degree in electrical and biomedical engineering.
9. Stuart Goldstein
Managing Director of Technology Investment Banking, Moelis & Company
Stuart Goldstein began his professional career 25 years ago. Today, he is the Managing Director of Technology Investment Banking for Moelis & Company, a leading global independent investment bank that provides innovative strategic advice and solutions to a diverse client base, including corporations, governments and financial sponsors. The firm assists its clients in achieving their strategic goals by offering comprehensive integrated financial advisory services across all major industry sectors. Moelis & Company’s experienced professionals advise clients on their most critical decisions, including M&A, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. Goldstein graduated from Harvard Law School with a JD and from the University of Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in finance.
10. Melissa Knox
Managing Director & Global Head of Software Investment Banking, Morgan Stanley
Melissa Knox is a Managing Director and Global Head of Software Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley. She is responsible for client coverage and deal execution across M&A and capital markets transactions.
Prior to Morgan Stanley, Knox was with Citigroup for 10 years covering the software sector. Prior to banking, she worked in corporate finance at HP, where she led a team responsible for the planning, reporting and analysis for HP's Financial Services division. While at HP, she also worked on the integration of the HP/Compaq merger. Knox received an undergraduate degree in business economics from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
11. Yogesh Amle
Managing Director & Head of Software Investment Banking, Credit Suisse
Yogesh Amle is a seasoned technology investment banker and advises clients in the enterprise software & systems sector on strategic advisory and capital raising. He currently serves as a Managing Director and Head of Software Investment Banking for Credit Suisse. In addition to covering corporate and start-ups, he proactively works with leading private equity and venture capital firms by bringing innovative and out-of-box ideas to the table on new investments and for existing portfolio companies. By coupling business development responsibilities with his hands-on transaction execution experience, Amle has a solid understanding of the strategic and financial playbook of the large cap technology players and valuable insights into how the disruptive themes of cloud, SaaS, security, mobility, big data and social are rapidly changing this landscape.
Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Amle was the head of software investment banking for BMO Capital Markets, and before that, the head of software at Union Square Advisors. He has worked at Citi, Barclays and J.P.Morgan in various roles in their TMT Investment Banking groups. Prior to J.P.Morgan, Amle spent several years as a technology entrepreneur at a successful VC backed .com start-up and was responsible for new ventures, corporate development and product management. The technology sector has been the core anchor of his professional achievements over the last 21 years. He started his career as a strategy consultant working for the largest conglomerate in India, where he helped the TATA Group of companies navigate through multiple assignments spanning internal strategy planning to executing future roadmaps. Amle graduated from Indian Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree in technology, from The National University of Singapore with a master’s degree in engineering research, and from NYU, Stern School of Business with an MBA.
12. Lisa Byrnes
Managing Director of Technology Investment Banking, Canaccord Genuity
Lisa Byrnes is the Managing Director of Technology Investment Banking for Canaccord Genuity. Canaccord Genuity is the global capital markets division of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., offering institutional and corporate clients idea-driven investment banking, M&A, research, sales and trading services from offices in North America, U.K. & Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Byrnes is a highly experienced technology investment banker with more than 20 years of experience representing a wide range of public and private technology companies. She has a strong background advising clients on a variety of public and private financings as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Byrnes first got her start in 1999 in technology investment banking at Robertson Stephens before moving on to SVB Alliant, her most recent position prior to joining Canaccord Genuity. Byrnes graduated from The Wharton School with an MBA and from the University of New Hampshire with an undergraduate degree in economics.
13. Daniel Lee
Managing Director of Technology & Innovation Investment Banking, CIBC Capital Markets
Daniel Lee is the Managing Director of Technology & Innovation Investment Banking for CIBC Capital Markets, a broker-dealer and a subsidiary of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) that provides investment banking, capital markets and lending and treasury services. It is a leading provider of M&A advisory, debt and equity financing, corporate banking, trading, hedging and research. Lee has over a decade of capital markets experience focused on the technology sector. He has successfully closed well over 50 M&A and capital raise transactions across a broad range of sub-sectors including enterprise software, SMB SaaS, blockchain/cryptocurrencies, fintech, digital media, AdTech, telecom, and semiconductors.
Lee is relentlessly hustling to achieve exceptional strategic outcomes for founders, executive teams, and shareholders of technology companies. Before joining CIBC Capital Markets, Lee was a partner in investment banking and technology at Paradigm Capital. Earlier in his career, he worked with M Partners in equity research in technology. Lee graduated from the University of Toronto with a JD and a master’s degree in financial economics, and from York University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
14. Markus Salolainen
Technology Corporate Finance Partner, EY
Markus Salolainen is a Technology Corporate Finance Partner at EY. EY offers investment banking services through industry-dedicated teams with a focus on the middle market. They leverage their global network of investment banking professionals to deliver insightful, objective and strategic deal advice on M&A, debt and equity capital market transactions. Salolainen has over 25 years of experience in investment banking and specializes in fintech, cyber, mobility and software technologies.
Salolainen started his career in TMT Investment Banking with UBS and HSBC. After working as a principal at BlueRun Ventures and a general partner at Nokia Growth Partners, he joined Arma Partners where he was a senior managing director focusing on software companies globally. Most recently, Salolainen was a managing director and head of Europe at AGC Partners. He has closed M&A deals with Apple, ARM, Nokia, NXP, Deltek, SEGA, Sky, BT, Invensense, Borderfree, u-blox, Providence Equity, Baird Capital, EQT, Constellation Software and Lionbridge, among others. His VC investments have been acquired by AMD, AMS, Dolby, Qualcomm, Nokia, AVG and Websense. Salolainen graduated from The London School of Economics and Political Science with an MS in economics, and from the University of Surrey with an undergraduate degree in management studies.
15. Cameron Lester
Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Technology Investment Banking, Jefferies
Cameron Lester is the Global Co-Head of Technology Investment Banking at Jefferies Technology Group. He first joined the firm in 2016. Jefferies has served companies and investors for 60 years. Headquartered in New York, with offices in over 30 cities around the world, the firm provides clients with capital markets and financial advisory services, institutional brokerage and securities research, as well as asset and wealth management.
Lester was most recently head of global internet investment banking at Credit Suisse. Prior to returning to investment banking, he co-founded Azure Capital Partners where he served as a general partner for fifteen years, specializing in internet, software, and related infrastructure technologies. Prior to Azure, he served as a managing director and the group head of the Software Investment Banking Group at Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group. Prior to CSFB, Lester served as the group head of the Software Investment Banking Group at Deutsche Bank. He started his investment banking career at PaineWebber. Lester received an MBA in finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Virginia.
16. Chris Shilakes
Managing Director & Global Head of Technology Media Telecom Investment Banking, Nomura
As Managing Director leading Global Technology Media Telecom Investment Banking, Chris Shilakes has primary responsibility for building out Nomura’s Global TMT Banking platform and expanding the company’s global software sector practice across all product areas, including interfacing with the venture community.
Previously, Shilakes was responsible for developing BofA Merrill Lynch’s Software Investment Banking and Venture Coverage platforms. He has worked on a variety of software IPOs, convertibles, follow-ons and M&A transactions in his career. From 2007 to 2012, he was the technology specialist on the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Institutional Equity Sales Desk in San Francisco, providing technology insights on 300 publicly-traded technology companies and IPOs to Merrill’s premiere technology investors. Before returning to Merrill Lynch, Shilakes was a founding partner of Blueshift Venture Advisors, providing capital raising, operational and strategic advisory services to emerging technology companies. Prior to Blueshift, he was a first VP with Merrill Lynch Equity Research, where he headed the Global Enterprise Software Research team for a decade. While in this role, he was named to the Institutional Investor magazine All-America Research Team for six consecutive years for his coverage of the enterprise software industry, and led research coverage on over 20 IPOs. In the early 1990s, Shilakes worked at Oracle Corporation to position the company’s turnaround for the financial community, and, in the late 1980s was an analyst at Alex. Brown & Sons on its technology research team. He graduated from Princeton University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
17. Timothy Monnin
Global Head of Fintech Investment Banking, KeyBanc Capital Markets
Timothy Monnin is the Global Head of Fintech Investment Banking for KeyBanc Capital Markets. With more than 800 professionals across a national platform, KeyBanc Capital Markets has more than $50 billion of capital committed to clients and an award-winning Equity Research team that provides coverage on over 600 publicly-traded companies. Their clients benefit from a deep expertise across seven focused industry sectors, including consumer & retail, healthcare, industrial, public sector, real estate, and technology. In his role, Monnin primarily focuses on M&A and capital raising in the fintech, software, IT and data services, and related technology-enabled business and financial services sectors.
Monnin has over 20 years of experience within investment banking. His recent transactions include go-private buy and sell-side advisory assignments, the largest U.S. IPO, and cross-border sell-side advisory assignments. Prior to joining KeyBanc, Monnin was the global head of fintech and information services for Jefferies. Before that, he served as a managing director and head of fintech, software and systems investment banking for Wells Fargo. Monnin graduated from Brown University with an undergraduate degree in organizational behavior studies and from the University of Illinois with an MBA in finance.
18. William Cass
Managing Director of Software & Technology Investment Banking, Needham
William Cass is the Managing Director of Software and Technology Investment Banking with Needham, an independent, globally-recognized investment bank and asset management firm specializing in advisory services and financings for growth companies. Needham & Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Needham Group, which also operates a private equity investment business and an investment management business. Since its founding, the firm has acted as lead or co-manager in more than 775 public offerings, including 268 IPOs, been an agent on more than 115 private placements, and completed over 380 mergers and acquisitions. Cass has 14 years of experience. He began his career in 2008. Cass graduated from Syracuse University with undergraduate degrees in finance and broadcast journalism.
19. Vineet Asthana
Managing Director of Media & Technology Investment Banking, Berkery Noyes & Co.
Vineet Asthana is the Managing Director of Media and Technology Investment Banking of Berkery Noyes & Co. He first joined the firm in 2015. Berkery Noyes is an independent investment bank providing M&A advisory to middle-market leaders in the TMT industry. They have advised on more than 500 transactions over the last 30 years. Asthana is a senior investment banking professional providing strategic advisory and financial services to companies throughout the technology, media and telecom industries. He has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, leveraged buyouts, and public/ private equity and debt financing. His transaction experience includes M&A and corporate finance assignments representing over $30 bn in aggregate value.
Previously, Asthana was an SVP of media & technology investment banking at Centrum Capital, and before that, an SVP of M&A at Citi. Earlier in his career, he worked with Rothschild Inc. as an analyst of M&A. Asthana earned an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree in accounting and economics from Franklin & Marshall College.
20. Gene Kabakov
Managing Director of TMT Investment Banking, Capital One
Gene Kabakov is the Managing Director of TMT Investment Banking with Capital One. He first joined the company in 2019. In his role, Kabakov is responsible for origination, execution, growing profitable client revenue and developing new client relationships. He has executed a variety of investment banking transactions including M&A, leveraged buyouts, IPOs and equity and high yield debt offerings for private equity and corporate clients. His industry and sector coverage includes technology, telecommunications, and media.
Previously, Kabakov was a director of TMT investment banking at Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking. Earlier in his career, he worked with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. as a VP and director of TMT investment banking. Kabakov earned an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and an undergraduate degree in finance and computer information systems from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business.
21. Sasson Darwish
Managing Director & Global Head of Software Investment Banking Group, Scotiabank
Sasson Darwish is a Managing Director, the Global Head of Software Investment Banking and Head of Israel Country Coverage for Scotiabank. He first joined the firm in 2022. Darwish has vast experience in investment banking services including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings. His primary focus is within infrastructure software, including analytics, digital media, DevOps, IoT, smart cities, connected infrastructure and transportation.
Previously, Darwish was a managing director at RBC Capital Markets, and before that, a managing director at DS Advisory Group; Technology Investment Banking. Earlier in his career, he worked with Lehman Brothers as a VP. Darwish earned an MBA in finance and strategy from Yale School of Management and an undergraduate degree in economics and management from Tel Aviv University.
22. Doug Gonsalves
Managing Director of Technology M&A, Truist Securities
Doug Gonsalves is the Managing Director of Technology M&A with Truist Securities. He is an accomplished technology investment banking professional with over two decades of experience providing management teams and boards with strategic transaction advice and direction on capital formation processes. He has extensive experience working with disruptive and market-leading companies in the enterprise software, digital media and mobile technology sectors. Gonsalves’ expertise lies within formulating, structuring and executing M&A, divestitures, private placements, recapitalizations, growth capital financings, privatizations, and preparing and delivering fairness opinions.
During an investment banking career that spans decades, Gonsalves has advised on numerous domestic and cross border transactions involving major technology consolidators such as Citrix, IBM, Oracle, Hitachi and Symantec, as well as leading technology-focused private equity firms. Gonsalves' prior experience includes serving as a managing director at Moreland & Associates. He previously was head of investment banking and M&A at Think Equity, and served as a member of management committee, as well as senior technology banker roles at SVB Alliant, the investment banking affiliate of Silicon Valley Bank, Merrill Lynch & Co., Robertson Stephens and Banc of America Securities.
23. Christopher Park
Managing Director & Head of Software & Services Banking, Intrepid Investment Bankers
Christopher Park began his professional career 24 years ago. Today, he is the Managing Director and Head of Software and Services Banking for Intrepid Investment Bankers. Intrepid provides M&A, capital raising, and strategic advisory services to entrepreneurs and middle-market companies in various industry sectors. They are widely recognized for their ability to convey the value in each entrepreneur’s story through a process designed to yield outsized results. Park is an experienced managing director with a demonstrated history of working in the investment banking and software industry. He is highly skilled in venture capital, LBO, corporate development, M&A, and private equity.
Park first got his start in 1998 in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. From there, he went on to CSC, before eventually rising to become a director of investment banking group at B. Riley & Co., his most recent position prior to joining Intrepid Investment Bankers. Park graduated from the University of California, Irvine with an undergraduate degree in biological sciences.
24. Michael Hirsch
Managing Director of Digital Marketing, Media & Technology Investment Banking, JEGI CLARITY
Michael Hirsch is the Managing Director of Digital Marketing, Media and Technology Investment Banking of JEGI CLARITY. He first joined the firm in 2017. As the definitive independent M&A advisor in our sectors, JEGI CLARITY is recognized for their deep domain expertise, market insights, global reach, and extensive transaction experience. Over thirty years and hundreds of completed transactions, they have earned an impeccable reputation for getting transactions done and delivering outstanding outcomes for clients. People are the true currency of their business and they share clients’ passion and ambition for what they’ve achieved, the future they’re building and the industries in which they work.
Previously, Hirsch was a managing director of internet and related software investment banking at Piper Jaffray, and before that, an SVP at Jefferies. Earlier in his career, he worked with Merrill Lynch as an associate. Hirsch earned an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and an undergraduate degree in finance and economics from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.
25. Jonathan Bohbot
Managing Director of Technology M&A, Bryan Garnier
Jonathan Bohbot is the Managing Director of Technology M&A with Bryan Garnier, the world’s leading independent full-service investment bank for European healthcare and technology-led companies and their investors. It partners with clients for the long term throughout their lifecycle, providing them access to public and private capital, M&A advisory with flawless execution and differentiated research insights. Clients benefit from its relentless commitment, unparalleled knowledge of these strategically important sectors and strong relationships with investors, from private equity and venture capital to institutional investors across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Bohbot has 12 years of experience. He began his career in 2010.
Before joining Bryan Garnier, Bohbot was an associate in transaction services at PwC where he performed financial due diligence assignments for corporate and private equity clients, sell-side and buy-side. He graduated from Wisconsin School of Business with a master’s degree in corporate finance.
