The GenEM Foundation was established in 2012 as the corporate foundation of a boutique Emerging Markets asset manager, becoming independent in 2023.
Since 2016, we have focused exclusively on sustainable livelihoods, initially funding grant projects, and expanding our remit to social investments in 2021. To date, we’ve funded 80 partners in over 30 countries with US$15m of grants and social investments.
Our core team below is supported by an extensive network of supporters who provide us with emerging market, impact and financial expertise.
Our Team
Karen Roydon
Trustee & Chair
Partner, Portfolio Manager of Genesis Investment Management, 2006-2023
Previously Analyst at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers
Bachelor’s in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from St Anne’s College, Oxford University, and a Masters in Economics from Brasenose College, Oxford University. CFA Charterholder
Karen became the Chair of GenEM in 2020, after joining the board of trustees in 2015. She stepped up her commitment to GenEM in 2023, following completion of her twenty year investment career. At Genesis, she was a Portfolio Manager and Partner, primarily focused on Asian and African markets, and latterly Chaired the Operating Board and Client Group. Karen speaks French and Mandarin.
Chris Ellyatt
TRUSTEE & PROJECT REVIEWER
Partner & Managing Director Genesis Investment Management, 2011 – 2023
MSc Development Studies SOAS, University of London
Trustee of Bowel & Cancer Research 2012-2020
Chris renewed his commitment to GenEM in 2024, having served as a Trustee from 2015-2021, including a term as Chair. He has over 35 years of investment management industry experience across the UK and Asia, primarily in leadership and client development roles.
Xing Hu
Trustee
Partner, Portfolio Manager of Genesis Investment Management, 2018-2023
Previously Portfolio Manager at Fidelity International, based in Hong Kong and London
Bachelor’s in Finance and Actuarial Science from the University of New South Wales, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. CFA Charterholder
Xing became a Trustee in 2021. Xing has over ten years of investing experience most recently from 2018-2023, as a Portfolio Manager and Partner at Genesis, leading the firm’s investments into the Chinese, Taiwanese and South Korean markets. Xing speaks Mandarin.
Martina Jersakova
Trustee
Director, Institutional Sales and Consultant Relations, MFS International, from 2023
Masters in Business Studies from the University of Edinburgh. CFA Charterholder
Martina became a Trustee in 2023. She has over 15 years’ experience primarily in client relationship and business development roles. She is also a Trustee of the Diversity Project Charity, a grant-making organisation funding projects contributing to a more inclusive society and a mentor for Girls are Investors (GAIN). Martina speaks Czech.
Richard Mather
Trustee
Partner, Portfolio Manager of Genesis Investment Management, 2013-2023
Previously at SABMiller in strategy and financial analysis, based in South Africa, India and Hong Kong
Bachelor’s in Business Science from the University of Cape Town, a Masters in Finance from EDHEC Business School, and an Executive MBA from Cambridge University
Richard became a Trustee in 2018. He is an investor and non-executive director with a particular focus on the FMCG industry. From 2013-2023, he was a Portfolio Manager at Genesis, leading the firm’s investments in Africa, Southeast Asia and Central & Eastern European markets.
Mario Solari
Trustee
Partner, Portfolio Manger of Genesis Investment Management, 2014-2023
Previously Portfolio Manager at Moneda Asset Management in New York and Santiago
Bachelor’s in Finance and Economics from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and an MBA from Columbia Business School
Mario became a Trustee in 2021. Mario has over twenty years of investing experience, most recently from 2014-2023 at Genesis, where he led investments into Latin America and Southeast Asia as a Partner of the firm. He is also an experienced angle investor in areas including software, fintech, and healthtech. Mario speaks Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
Tom Hoyle
Adviser
Genesis Charitable Trust Manager 2016-2023
Previously managed grantmaking and governance for Cause4 clients
Led Project Harar Ethiopia 2006-2013
Experience in policy, communications and operations for charities and social business
Studied NGO Management at Bayes Business School
Tom has managed the Genesis Charitable Trust since 2016. Previously, he was a Consultant at Cause4 where he administered the Peter Sowerby Foundation and ran a trustee training programme with Close Brothers Asset Management and the Clothworkers livery company. Prior to that he was an Executive Director of Project Harar Ethiopia. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in NGO Management from Bayes Business School and degrees in international relations from the University of Leeds. He is a governor of an academy school.
