Team

Denis Shishulin holds a Candidate of Technical Sciences degree and an Engineer qualification in Cybernetics and Computer-Integrated Systems. With over 25 years of experience in IT leadership, infrastructure engineering, software development, and process automation, Denis has built a reputation as a technology strategist. He began his career in 1997 as Director for Technologies at RAMSET-S LLC, then advanced to JSC STEL Computing Systems, developing pioneering telemedicine solutions. In 2005, he transitioned to the financial sector at Financial House Solid, where he rose to CTO/CIO, transforming IT operations, creating enterprise wide trading and analytical systems, and implementing best practice ITIL/ITSM processes.

Since relocating to Cyprus in 2019, Denis has led high impact projects as CTO/CIO at Solid Financial Services Ltd, building in house IT divisions, architecting resilient infrastructures, and delivering cutting edge platforms. In 2024, he became Head of IT at EmKap, overseeing the IT infrastructure across Cyprus, UK, and Nigeria offices, managing cybersecurity, developing trading platforms, and leading strategic technology initiatives that support the company’s growth and operational excellence.

Ekaterina Jovanovich has a Bachelor’s (with honours) and a Master’s in Finance (also with honours). Ekaterina began her career in the financial industry as a junior auditor at PWC and, after completing a British Council work experience program, she transitioned to a Foreign Exchange Sales professional at GNI Limited, which later became part of MF Global, securing FCA regulation and establishing a strong foundation in client development and market insight. After leaving MF Global in 2012, Ekaterina spent the next 8 years working with several broker dealer firms in London. During this time, she focused on deepening her expertise in foreign exchange, derivatives, and fixed income markets. Since joining EmKap UK Ltd in 2020, Ekaterina has very positively contributed to the firm’s Sales and Trading by achieving solid year-on-year revenue growth for the desk. She has a strong ability to cultivate and maintain a diverse global client base. Ekaterina Jovanovich is on the FCA register. She has overall 20-year industry experience in the financial markets, and her current position is head of brokerage for EmKap UK Ltd.

Ekaterina Rtishcheva holds an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Economics (First Class Honours) from the University of Sheffield. She began her career at EmKap Ltd’s brokerage unit, quickly advancing through senior trading roles, including Head of Brokerage and later Head of Proprietary Trading, where she managed an AUM of USD 100 million. Over her nine-year tenure, Ekaterina has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s trading operations, enhancing performance, and implementing strategies that strengthened EmKap’s market position. Ekaterina is currently serving as an Executive Director at EmKap UK Ltd, contributing to strategic decision making, governance, and operational oversight. Her strong quantitative skills, deep understanding of macroeconomic fundamentals, and ability to translate market insights into actionable strategies have been key contributors to the firm’s growth and resilience. Ekaterina is a holder of the CySEC Advanced Certificate and has built a track record of leadership and results in the financial markets.

Elena Paraskevaidou holds a BA majoring in Accounting from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in the United States and is a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant since 2011. Elena Paraskevaidou began her career within the accounting sector in Cyprus before transitioning to Cyprus based DI Ross, an accredited firm of qualified accountants. There she was an associate director acquiring a specialized knowledge of tax legislation and particularly IFRS rules. Although the pool of clients was diverse, she undertook a special focus on investment firms regulated by the CySEC, the FCA. In 2018 she joined EmKap Ltd as the CFO and streamlined the accounting unit by way of process automation, building out the team and implementing processes and controls that led to cost efficiencies. Since 2018, Elena has overseen the accounting units of EmKap UK ltd and EmKap SSA Ltd (Nigerian SEC licensed). Elena has an overall 18-year industry experience in the accounting industry whilst she always maintained a special focus in the financial services sector and her current position is CFO at EmKap Ltd.

Persella Ioannides holds an MBA and an MS in Financial Engineering from Columbia University, as well as a BS in Mathematics and Statistics from Bristol University. She began her career in New York as a Risk Manager on Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equity Derivatives desk, where she gained deep expertise in complex financial products and risk mitigation.

In 2007, Persella founded EmKap, a CySEC licensed investment firm, initially focused on asset management and investment advisory. Under her leadership, the firm has evolved into a diversified financial institution offering proprietary trading, brokerage, custody, and underwriting services. She has spearheaded EmKap’s expansion over the years from a specialised boutique into a global player, with offices in Cyprus, UK and Nigeria, licensed by CySEC, FCA and the Nigeran SEC, building a strong reputation in the Eurobond fixed income market, particularly across emerging economies.

Through strategic vision, disciplined execution, and market insight, Persella has positioned EmKap as a trusted partner for sophisticated investors worldwide.

Rim Fatkylbaianov has a Bachelor’s in Economics (majoring in Finance and Credit). After university Rim began his professional career in banking system as a treasury specialist in local banks and continued his career in the brokerage department of Gazprombank. As Head of brokerage in Gazprombank’s division in Kazan, he built a solid understanding of the financial markets, particularly in the building and the dynamic management of portfolios for managed accounts in the fixed income and equity space. During his 10-year tenor at banking he quickly rose through the ranks to Principal level where he was engaged in the treasury management, M&A dealings (including multiple billions USD deal) and was responsible for an AUM of 100mn+(USD). In early 2022, he joined EmKap Ltd as the head of the brokerage desk. Rim’s contribution to the brokerage desk of EmKap was almost immediately evident with a double-digit Year-on-Year growth of the desk’s trading turnover. His focus remains the fixed income space, specifically the high yield and the emerging markets. Rim is a holder of the CySEC advanced certificate. He has an overall 12-year experience in the financial markets and his current position is head of brokerage.

Simbarashe Jindu is the Head of SSA Trading and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Science from the National University of Science and Technology (Zimbabwe). Beginning his career in insurance, he built a solid foundation in risk modelling as an underwriter before transitioning into fixed income trading.
Leveraging his strong quantitative skills and analytical expertise, Simba provides valuable insights into the dynamics of hard currency sovereign and corporate debt instruments across Sub-Saharan Africa. Under his coverage, the desk has expanded into key markets such as Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, becoming a trusted source for institutional investors seeking informed perspectives on market developments.
With over five years of fixed income experience, Simba has earned the CySEC Advanced Financial Services Certification and is advancing his qualifications with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, further enhancing the technical depth he brings to the role.

Tariro Taka is a qualified legal and compliance professional with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Honours from the University of Zimbabwe. She is a registered Legal Practitioner, Notary Public, and Conveyancer with the High Court of Zimbabwe. Since 2019, she has been registered with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), holding both the CySEC Advanced and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Certifications. Tariro is also an Associate Member of the International Compliance Association (ICA) and brings 8 years of experience in the financial markets. She has progressed through the ranks within the Risk and Compliance Department of EmKap, ultimately being appointed AML Director. In this role, she coordinates internal seminars focused on AML certifications, fostering alignment within her team with evolving standards in the compliance industry.

She has also served as Head of Compliance and MLRO at EmKap UK Ltd, an FCA-licensed firm providing execution, investment advice, risk-taking, and custody services. Currently, Tariro is an Executive Director of EmKap Ltd and is pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with the University of East London, further strengthening her leadership and strategic management expertise.

Tatiana Kozlova joined EmKap in 2013 and has been a central figure in the development and evolution of the firm’s compliance operations. Over more than a decade, she has helped shape EmKap’s response to an increasingly complex regulatory landscape—scaling the compliance team, aligning with evolving rules, and maintaining a strong business-focused approach throughout. Before joining EmKap, Tatiana spent two years as a Sales Executive at Anixter, a Fortune 500 company specializing in telecommunications and security systems. There, she developed sharp analytical skills and a client-oriented mindset that now inform her ability to design practical, business-aligned compliance solutions within a demanding regulatory framework. Tatiana actively invests in professional development and has led the enhancement of EmKap’s compliance infrastructure, driving automation and strengthening reporting systems. Her efforts have been key in ensuring the firm remains compliant while continuing to scale its operations across jurisdictions.

She holds a degree in Financial Management and ranked in the top 10th percentile in the CySEC Ministry of Finance (MOF) exams, underscoring her deep regulatory expertise and commitment to excellence.

Yulia Chernova has a BSc in Economics (first-class honors). After university in 2009 Yulia began her professional career with Credit Agricole CIB bank as a Senior Specialist of Financial Analysis and Reconciliation. There, she was responsible for the analysis and control of business processes, the optimization of reconciliation processes and the creation of various operations related electronic databases. In 2014, she was promoted as Project Manager of Credit Agricole bank where she was responsible for the implementation of new IT systems, the assistance and development of programs related to employees’ issues on operations related issues and on coordination of teams for the proper workflow within the operations unit across the bank globally. In 2019, she joined EmKap Ltd as head of the operations department. Yulia oversees the settlements and clearing as well as the custody department of all companies related to EmKap i.e. in the UK and in Africa. She also intermediates between the IT development team and the business unit on corresponding projects that relate to the automation of processes of the operations department and other IT platforms of the Company that relate to the execution, settlement and reflection of trading positions. Yulia has overall 15-year industry experience in the operations unit of the financial markets and her current position is head of operations department at EmKap Ltd.