BlueArc Advisory — Our Team
Our team of corporate advisors and funding experts brings together decades of experience across banking, law, tax, corporate finance, structuring and corporate advisory.
Core team
Annamaria Branchaedel
Private Credit · Private Equity · Debt Capital Markets
Annamaria is a highly experienced banking professional specialising in cross-border corporate financing, advising corporates on complex funding and capital structure challenges.
She advises corporates, sponsors, and board and executive-level stakeholders on funding strategy, transaction execution, and investor engagement, helping clients strengthen financial positioning and optimise capital structures across bank, private credit, private equity, and capital markets solutions.
Annamaria has extensive experience in the origination and execution of Eurobonds, private placements, loans, and other debt capital markets products, managing transactions end-to-end from structuring through to execution. She works closely with lenders and institutional investors, supporting clients in developing clear, credible credit stories and positioning effectively in competitive funding processes.
She has held senior roles within leading international banking institutions, building long-standing relationships with multinational corporate clients and developing a deep understanding of capital provider expectations.
Annamaria combines strong analytical capability with a practical, commercially focused approach, including financial analysis, market insight, and the preparation of robust credit and investor materials.
She supports clients in engaging confidently with lenders and investors, translating strategy into a compelling financial narrative and securing well-structured, credible, and sustainable funding outcomes.
Christian Kummert
Banking · Project & Infrastructure Finance
Christian is a highly experienced banking professional specialising in infrastructure and cross-border financing, advising corporates, sponsors, and public sector entities on complex funding and capital structure challenges across Europe.
He works closely with board and executive-level stakeholders, supporting the origination, structuring, and execution of financing solutions across the full transaction lifecycle — from mandate development and financial structuring through to financial close, refinancing, and capital optimisation.
Christian brings deep expertise in infrastructure and project finance, including PPP/PFI structures across transport, energy, and social infrastructure, as well as experience in debt capital markets, structured finance, private debt, and M&A-related transactions.
Having worked extensively across Ireland, the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Spain, the Benelux countries, and Central and Eastern Europe, Christian brings a genuinely pan-European perspective, supported by a well-established network of sponsors, lenders, investors, and public sector stakeholders.
He supports clients in structuring and executing financing solutions, engaging effectively with capital providers, and delivering complex transactions with clarity, discipline, and certainty.
Karl Young
Corporate · Finance
Karl is a senior corporate finance professional with extensive international experience in multinational businesses, bringing a strong combination of financial leadership, commercial judgement, and operational insight.
He has held senior corporate-side finance leadership roles, including Finance Director, Company Secretary, and Pension Trustee, providing him with a deep understanding of the day-to-day realities of running a business — from cashflow management, treasury, and working capital to budgeting, strategic planning, governance, and operational decision-making.
Karl has broad experience across M&A, business optimisation, restructuring, and strategic change, including acquisitions, due diligence, integration programmes, site closures, disposals, systems transformation, and major cross-functional initiatives.
He supports clients in improving financial performance, enhancing operational efficiency, and aligning strategy, operations, and funding to deliver sustainable outcomes.
Michael Byrne
Legal · Tax · Structuring
Michael is an internationally experienced banking and finance lawyer, tax professional, and structuring specialist, known for his highly commercial and pragmatic approach to complex financing and capital challenges.
He advises corporates, sponsors, financial institutions, and board and executive-level stakeholders on structuring and executing financing solutions that align legal, tax, and commercial considerations.
He has extensive experience across trade finance, receivables and supply chain finance, syndicated lending, project finance, and capital markets. A key strength is structuring working capital and balance sheet solutions, integrating receivables, payables, and inventory to enhance liquidity and capital efficiency.
Michael is recognised for his ability to think creatively and challenge conventional approaches. He is a qualified solicitor in Ireland, England and Wales, and a qualified tax professional, bringing an integrated legal and tax perspective to structuring and execution.
Advisory network & consultants
Harald Palma
Corporate | Technology
Technology consultant and senior advisor, supporting BlueArc and its clients across digital, data and technology initiatives. Full profile available on request.
Howard Barrie
Legal | Banking | Project & Infrastructure Finance
Howard is an internationally experienced finance lawyer and advisor, specialising in cross-border project finance, infrastructure and structured trade finance, with over 40 years of experience advising on complex transactions across developed and emerging markets.
Howard brings deep expertise in project and infrastructure finance, including large-scale energy, transport, and public sector PPP projects. He has worked extensively with banks, export credit agencies, and multilaterals, structuring often innovative financing solutions.
A partner in City of London law firms for many years, he has advised on award-winning projects, been shortlisted for the Financial Times' Innovative Lawyer of the Year award, and edited and contributed to books on project finance.
A key strength is his ability to manage risk allocation and structuring in complex environments, particularly in transactions involving multiple stakeholders, sovereign counterparties, and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Neil Sharma-Burford
Consultant & Senior Advisor
Neil is a highly experienced CFO, turnaround specialist, and corporate finance advisor, with a strong track record supporting shareholders, boards, management teams, and private equity investors through complex financial, operational, and strategic situations.
He brings a deep corporate perspective, having held senior CFO, COO, CEO, restructuring, and transformation roles across listed, private equity-backed, and privately owned businesses. This experience provides a practical understanding of the day-to-day challenges companies face, including cashflow and working capital pressures, lender engagement, operational performance, stakeholder management, and the need for clear, deliverable financial plans.
Neil has extensive experience in turnaround, restructuring, refinancing, M&A, and shareholder value creation. He has led refinancings, managed sale processes, supported private equity exits, delivered post-acquisition transformation, and driven improvements in profitability, cash generation, and working capital across sectors including retail, consumer, manufacturing, media, leisure, and agriculture.
He has worked with a range of established consumer brands, multi-site operators, and private equity-backed businesses. His assignments include EBITDA improvement, working capital optimisation, debt raises and refinancing, due diligence, and the implementation of robust financial controls, management information, and cashflow forecasting.
A key strength is his ability to move quickly from analysis to action. He is a hands-on operator, working closely with boards, shareholders, lenders, and management teams to stabilise performance, identify value opportunities, and deliver practical solutions under pressure, combining financial discipline with strong commercial judgement and a focus on outcomes.
Neil also brings significant private equity and investment experience, having worked early in his career with a leading global private equity firm and subsequently with a range of investors, portfolio companies, and turnaround stakeholders. This provides a strong understanding of investor expectations, transaction dynamics, 100-day planning, refinancing, and performance improvement in both ownership transition and stressed situations.
He supports clients in assessing financial resilience, strengthening liquidity, developing credible turnaround and refinancing plans, and aligning operational priorities with funding strategy and shareholder objectives.
Richard Golden
M&A | Corporate Finance
Richard is a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and strategic advisory, with extensive experience supporting clients on complex cross-border transactions.
Richard has a strong track record across industrials, consumer goods, chemicals, logistics and freight, tourism, and financial services. His experience spans multinational corporations, sovereign entities, state-owned enterprises, mid-cap companies, and private equity investors.
A particular strength is his cross-border expertise across Europe, the United States, and Japan.
In addition to his advisory work, Richard brings governance experience through supervisory board roles, including as Treasurer of the Vienna International School and as a board member of the Austrian Landmarks Society.