Mark Pevsner Email & Phone Number

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Senior Advisor to EIB's Investment Team for Greece (ITG) coordinating provision of Technical and Financial Advisory (TFA). The ITG was established by the bank in 2016 and reinforced in 2017 with the objective of increasing EIB's contribution to developing the Greek economy, in particular through developing new sources of investment finance such as joint public private sector structures, as well as funding for for SMEs, technology and research. ITG is already delivering a significant portfolio of TFA including approaches to strengthen PPP preparation and delivery and an update to the National Transport Plan. Future TFA projects are expected to prepare much-needed investment in transport and public sector infrastructure, as well as improving access to finance for smaller SMEs.

Building on the successes and experience with SNAP-T and MeHSIP, continuing to develop the TFA component of the Bank's Economic Resilience Initiative (ERI) which represents the Bank’s response to the short term issues created by refugees and wider migration and the longer term issues of promoting economic resilience in the Southern Neighbourhood. ERI provide TFA project preparation and implementation support across the full range of infrastructure investments in the Neighbourhood, and also financial advice to improve access to finance for SMEs and microentrepreneurs. I am currently working with United Nations Environment to put in place a USD 5 million grant from the Global Environment Fund, that will be used to prepare strategic water and wastewater projects around the Southern Mediterranenan.

Technical and Financial Advice for project preparation is essential to accelerate projects in Europe's Southern Neighbourhood due to a combination of variable project preparation skill of counterparts and complex political environments. The Neighbourhood Advisory Programmes were designed to promote economic development, employment creation and integration in the Neighbourhood by delivering high quality TFA to contribute to effective prioritisation, preparation and implementation of investment projects. I led the development of the first two programmes, covering the transport (SNAP-T) and water and waste sectors (MeHSIP), managed the relationships with main external stakeholders, ensured operational management of the programmes working with sector experts, provided financial advice and support for project structuring, and managed budget and administrative processes. SNAP-T delivered more than EUR 23 million of externally procured project preparation advice to some 21 transport projects across the region by the end of 2016. By the end of 2016, preparation of seven projects had been completed and two were under physical implementation.In parallel, the second programme covering the water, waste water and solid waste sectors began operations in mid-2015 and now has a well-developed portfolio of investments for preparation support across the region.

Luxembourg

The JASPERS Initiative was set up in 2006 to accelerate the absorption of Structural and Cohesion Funds in the 12 countries that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007. It provides independent technical advice to help improve the quality of the major projects to be submitted to the EC for grant financing. JASPERS is managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and co-sponsored by the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). It developed rapidly to a team of more than 50 professional staff based in EIB offices in Luxembourg, Warsaw, Vienna and BucharestSeconded from EIB’s European Lending Department to be part of the start-up team, with responsibility for building relationships and managing selection of projects to be supported and delivery of advice in the 6 Northern JASPERS countries, including Poland and the Baltic States. Also responsible for reporting to the European Commission. Developed and managed the annual project selection process in the Northern countries, identifying appropriate projects for support, defining the scope of such support and managing counterpart relations and expectations during the work. Led the opening of one of the three JASPERS regional offices in Warsaw including significant team-building activities. Part of team developing processes and approaches to measuring impact of the initiative.

Luxembourg

Senior Loan Officer identifying, developing and implementing wide range of corporate and structured loan transactions with public and private sector borrowers in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries. Loan Officers lead EIB lending teams bringing together legal, credit risk and project evaluation experience. The Loan Officer is responsible for the relationship with the counterpart, developing the overall form of the transaction and ensuring that it develops into a viable form for all involved. The Loan Officer leads presentation to the Bank’s approving bodies, leads the contractual team and manages disbursement (including satisfaction of CPs), and also managed any subsequent contractual negotiations.Led transactions, primarily in the transport sector, covering:-• Corporate loans for airport, railway and urban transport infrastructure investment;• Aircraft, rolling stock and manufacturing asset lease-backed transactions; and• PPP rail infrastructure.Also involved in a number of transaction restructurings to meet changes in client needs or circumstances.

Luxembourg

Project Economist and Senior Economist in the Bank’s Projects Department. The Project Economist is responsible for assessing the financial and economic viability of the investment projects supported. Between 1994 and 1998, prepared numerous project appraisals in the transport sector focussing on rail (including high speed rail) airport, airline and air traffic control projects. Provided assessments of the traffic and revenue forecasts of a large private sector transport infrastructure project during financial restructuring.Between 1998 and 2001 was project economist on a wide range of telecommunications projects, including 3rd/4th competitive GSM operators in Europe and 2nd competitive GSM operators in sub-Saharan Africa. Identified not only the enormous potential of competitive mobile telecommunications, but also many of the technologically attractive but ultimately unsuccessful investments in the market at that period, including the overpayment for many 3rd Generation mobile telecommunications licences in Europe, a long distance fibre optic network, a paid digital terrestrial broadcaster and a competitive wireless last mile operator.My approach as project economist consistently focussed on identifying the key risks and opportunities for the sector and the investment, assessing mitigation strategies if any, and helping to develop sound and bankable projects.

Luxembourg

Responsible for ensuring policy development, processes, reporting and knowledge sharing for EIB’s small business lending within Europe, which exceeded EUR 12 billion in 2013. Oversaw implementation of a major update of the Bank’s flagship loan product, the ‘Loan for SMEs’, following s wide stakeholder consultation exercise. This included creating a clearer identity for lending targeting small businesses within the wider intermediated loan portfolio. The introduction of the Loan for SMEs coincided with the onset of the financial crisis in Europe; developed and implemented enhancements responding to specific market needs. Developed relationships with key stakeholders in the banking sector, and led EIB’s public reporting process on its SME activities.In parallel developed a range of additional lending structures to meet emerging market needs, focussing on risk transfer and optimisation of regulatory capital for SME finance. Led EIB development and negotiation team for the ‘PRIOGRESS’ microfinance initiative bringing together EIF, EIB and the European Commission. Developed a new monitoring framework and tools, including for the transfer of Financial Advantage to small businesses, which is one of the key policy impacts of the Bank’s lending.