Structure & Leadership

Aiga Ārste-Avotiņa has been working in the executive search business since 1996, when she joined Amrop International in Latvia as their first local representative. She developed the company into the biggest player in the market for senior level recruitment in the Baltics. As of 2019, Aiga is the Managing Partner of Amrop Latvia as well as a Partner in Amrop Ukrainian and Estonian operations.

Since 1999, when she was first appointed as a Partner, she has been leading executive search assignments in the Baltics and Ukraine, in a range of sectors, including Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Retail, IT & Telecommunications and other industries, completing over 500 executive search projects for the leading international, state-owned and local companies. She has also been leading management assessment assignments in the Baltics and Nordics.

Aiga graduated from the University of Latvia with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has an MBA from the Riga Business School. She has also studied Executive Development Business Programs at the International Institute of Management Development in Switzerland and the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance.

Šarūnas Dyburis is Managing Partner at a retained executive search company AIMS International Lithuania as well as a Board member and Deputy Head of Board Services Practice at AIMS International.

He has over 15 years of experience in executive search, having worked and practiced in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Czech Republic, etc.

He holds an EMBA in Business Administration from the Baltic Management Institute, an MBA in International Trade from Vilnius University and a BBA in Business Administration from Vytautas Magnus University.

Marja-Liisa Soone is Senior Legal Counsel at Bolt, one of the fastest-growing startups in the world.

Passionate about introducing and implementing good corporate governance in companies, Marja-Liisa has previously held the position of Head of Legal and Compliance at Ridango AS, a leading mass transport IT solutions provider in Northern and Eastern Europe, and at Tallinna Vesi AS, a listed and largest water utility company in Estonia.

She holds a law degree and a degree in financial management, both from Tartu University. She has also taken courses in Lund University in Sweden and Georgetown University in US.

Marja-Liisa is an alumnus of the BICG class of 2013.

Kārlis Danēvičs is a Management Board member of SEB in Latvia, having an overview of local and Baltic economies as well as businesses and their governance levels.

He has previously been CFO and Head of Client Relationship Management at SEB, having also worked for SEB in Sweden, covering other geographies besides the Baltics, and also for other financial institutions.

Kārlis serves as the Head of Lending Committee at Finance Latvia Association, Chair of the Supervisory Board at the SOS Children’s Villages Latvia and Senate member of SOS Children’s Villages International operating in over 130 countries.

He has been a member of the BICG Board since 2017, being re-elected for a third tenure in 2023 and holding the Chair position since 2022.

Ansi Arumeel is a Strategic Advisor, with extensive background in logistics and e-commerce. He is also currently serving as a member of the Supervisory Board at Mobire Group, which offers  car leasing and rental services across the Baltics.

Previously, Ansi has held top management positions at Retail Robotics, the largest automated parcel machine manufacturer in Europe, and Omniva, postal and e-commerce delivery service provider.

He is a graduate of Chalmers University of Technology as well as Tallinn University of Technology (TallTech).

Ansi is serving on the BICG Board since 2023.

Daiga Auziņa-Melalksne is chairing the Latvian Corporate Governance Advisory Board under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and is also a member of the Advisory Board at Riga Business School.

Previously, she was the Chair of the Management Board of the Nasdaq Riga stock exchange and a member of the Management Board of Nasdaq Tallinn. She has been responsible for the development of Nasdaq Baltic markets for over a decade, since 2012.

An experienced financial services executive with over 20 years of leadership and management experience at international financial services companies, Daiga is passionate about capital markets and believes in good corporate governance and accountability as drivers of growth and economic prosperity.

She holds an Executive MBA from the Riga Business School and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Latvia.

Since 2010, Daiga has been a Board member of the BICG, including serving as the Chair in 2012-2014 and in 2016-2020.

Vita Balode-Andrews is CFO and member of the Management Board at Latvian Railway JSC, the Latvian state-owned operator of rail infrastructure and provider of freight transport, which is engaged in other activities connected to the sector as well.

With over 25 years of diverse management experience, she is committed to promoting and advancing sound environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

Vita also serves as a member of the Council at the Daugavpils University.

Previously, she has worked at Swedavia AB, which is the Swedish state-owned operator of all major airports, for 12 years. Her positions included leading Parking, Entry & Mobility and Retail Food Beverage & Advertising as well as serving as the top financial person addressing those areas.

She holds a Licentiate degree in Accounting and Management Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Vita is serving on the BICG Board since 2022.

Kristjan Endrikson is Renewable Energy Product Lead at Sunly, an independent energy producer developing renewable energy projects in the Baltics and Poland.

Previously, he has held the positions of the Head of Legal at Bondora Group, a financial company, and General Counsel at Eesti Energia Group/Enefit. He has also worked as General Counsel and member of the Management Board for a telecommunications operator Tele2 in Estonia as well as a member of the Supervisory Board for the Estonian Broadband Development Foundation.

Kristjan has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in European and International law from TalTech Department of Law (former Concordia International University Estonia) in Estonia and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of London (former College of Law).

He is serving on the BICG Board since 2021.

Simonas Gustainis is a co-Managing Partner at a private equity and venture capital investor BaltCap, responsible for business operations and investments in Lithuania and Poland.

He has an extensive experience in investing across various industry sectors and investment strategies, having been involved in 55+ platform investments across the Baltic region, and has held 11 Board roles to date, currently including commercial property management company BPT Real Estate, meat processing company Krekenevos agrofirma and others.

Simonas is the founding Board member of the Lithuanian PE & VC Association.

He is an EMBA graduate from INSEAD.

Simonas is serving on the BICG Board since 2023.

Kati Kusmin is the CEO of Riigi Kinnisvara AS, a state real estate development and management company, owned fully by the Estonian state. She is also an independent member of the Supervisory Board at Klaasimeister AS, a growing glass processing business active in the Nordic and Baltic region as well as in the UK.

Previously, Kati has been a member of Management Boards or management at several listed companies, such as Silvano Fashion Group AS, Baltika AS, Kalev AS, Tallinna Kaubamaja AS; and has worked as the CEO of Estonia’s largest fast-moving consumer goods retail company ETK (now Coop Estonia).

She has applied her diverse experience in various fields, including as a member of the Council at the Estonian Employers’ Confederation and Chair of the Estonian Traders’ Association.

Kati studied Economics and Organization in Service Industry at the Tallinn University of Technology.

She is serving on the BICG Board since 2022.

Dr Irmantas Norkus is the Managing Partner of COBALT Lithuania and Chairman of the Pan-Baltic Board of COBALT, one of the leading law firms in the region. Apart from these roles, he is a practicing lawyer advising a wide range of clients, both local and international, on high-profile and complex legal matters and focusing, among other things, on transactional and corporate governance matters.

He has more than 15 years of extensive experience in private and public M&A, competition, banking and finance, and is constantly recognized as a leading lawyer in his practice areas by the most prestigious legal directories.

Irmantas has been a member of the Lithuanian Bar Association since 1999 and a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) since 2004.

He has a Doctor’s degree in Social Sciences (Law) from Vilnius University.

Irmantas is serving on the BICG Board since 2017, being re-elected for a third tenure in 2023.

Daiva Rakauskaitė, CFA, is a Partner at LLP Business angels fund I (since 2010) and a fund manager at LLP Business angels fund II (since 2018). She has more than 15 years of experience in private equity, and in the latter years is actively investing into start-ups and young businesses.

Daiva is Chair at Probiosanus UAB and Integrated optics UAB as well as Chair of Advisory Board at Mark ID.

Previously, she has served as a financial analyst at the Baltic Post Privatisation fund (1999-2006) and securities brokerage house Suprema (1994-1999). Daiva was also among the founders of Finance analytic‘s association in 1999. Since 2017, she is a member of the Investors’ association as well as the association ‘Lyderė’ for promoting women’s leadership and career striving.

Daiva’s basic education is in economics. In 1995, she received a diploma in Systemic Economic Analysis (Economic cybernetics) from the Vilnius University, and two years later obtained an MBA in finance from the same university. In 2003, Daiva earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation at CFA Institute.

Daiva is serving on the BICG Board since 2019, being re-elected for a second tenure in 2022.

Uldis Biķis is the Chair of the Supervisory Board and previously the CEO of plywood production and forest management enterprise Latvijas Finieris, having worked at the company since 1994.

He is a member of the Supervisory Board at the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, also representing Latvijas Finieris in other professional organisations and NGOs.

Uldis has previously served as the Board member at the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance as well.

He is Appointed Commander of the Cross of Recognition in Latvia, awarded for service to the country and outstanding merits in constitutional and public work, culture, science, sports, and education.

Honorary Doctor of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.

Education and specialisation – forestry engineer.

Gundars Bērziņš is a member of the Board at the SSE Riga Foundation, member of the UL Student Business Incubator Council and Dean of the University of Latvia’s Faculty of Business, Management and Economics.

Gundars holds a doctorate in management science and has participated in many research projects as a leading researcher. He has authored a number of international scientific publications and his research interests include business strategies, automated decisions and regional economic policy.

Mārtiņš Bičevskis is an experienced director, mentor, angel investor.

He serves as a Board member in various private and state-owned companies and organisations, including financial service company DelfinGroup, Latvian railway infrastructure manager LatRailNet, BA School of Business and Finance, etc.

Mārtiņš is also a startup ecosystem enthusiast and strong advocate of corporate governance.

He is a limited partner in the Commercialization Reactor Fund, an angel investor and a mentor in Cocoon – Tartu based self-discovery and company growth program as well as a mentor in Seedstar.

Previously, he has served as State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Justice, member of the Board in large state-owned companies in the real estate and energy sectors as well as President of the Latvian Banking Association.

Gatis Flinters is a Partner at COBALT Latvia, with over 20 years of relevant experience and a proven record in large-scale investment projects, while advising local and foreign companies.

He is the Head of Corporate & Commercial Law practice group at COBALT Latvia and the Co-Head of the Corporate & Employment Law practice group of COBALT pan-Baltic offices.

Gatis is a member of Corporate Governance Advisory Board at the Ministry of Justice and a member of the permanent Commercial Law Working Group.

Juta Kaktiniece is Head of Legal at SEB banka Latvia, one of the largest banks in Latvia and part of the SEB group, a leading Nordic financial services group founded in 1856.

She has been working for SEB in various positions since 2002, and as the Head of Legal since 2012.

Juta is also a Co-Chair of Legal Committee at the Finance Latvia Association.

She has Master Degree of Laws (LL.M.) in Public Law from Police Academy of Latvia and Master Degree of Laws (LL.M.) in International Maritime Law from IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.

Zane Kotāne is the CEO at Exante, a wealthtech company that provides centralised trading solutions and B2B financial infrastructure.

Having held various Management Board and Supervisory Council positions both in private and state-owned companies for the last 10 years, she is considered to be an expert in management, finance and corporate governance.

Zane is one of the early graduates of the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance, having completed the Board member education course in 2011.

Andris Lauciņš is a Partner with audit and consultancy firm Ernst & Young (EY), in charge of the consulting services quality function within EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, Europe, India, Africa) area.

Over the recent years Andris has been involved in setting up and running project/program management offices of large integrated programs, specializing in government and public sector, energy and utilities, transport sector as well as efficiency improvement projects for a wide variety of businesses.

He holds certification of Information System Auditor (CISA), was one of the Latvia ISACA chapter founders and past presidents. Andris is PRINCE 2 Certified Project Management Practitioner.

Andris has a Master’s degree in System Analysis (Engineer and Systems Analyst) from Riga Technical University and a second Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.

Previously, he has served as the Chair of the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia.

Andris is also one of the founders and current Chair of the Board of the Maternity hospital foundation.

Rinalds Sluckis is the CEO at Digital Mind AS, a pan-Baltic B2B technology consultancy.

He has 20 years of experience in enterprise business digitization and business technology implementation as a co-founder, investor and executive at several IT businesses.

Rinalds focuses on digital enterprise strategy and digital transformation.

Jānis Vanags is the CCO and member of the leadership team at Repharm AS, which leads a group of five companies working in Latvian healthcare industry.

Jānis has over 10 years of experience in senior management positions in aviation, service and retail industries. He has also worked as a consultant and trainer on corporate affairs and emergency management for major international organizations and companies in Europe, Asia and Africa (United Nations, IATA, etc.).

He is a sought-after speaker and lecturer at universities and conferences globally, from London to Singapore, on topics ranging from marketing to intelligent automation.

Viktorija Trimbel is Managing Partner at Quantum Capital, strategic management advisory boutique, and one of the most experienced independent directors in Lithuania with finance, strategy and digital focus.

She has over 27 years of outstanding track record in corporate and strategic governance, M&A and fundraising advisory for local and international clients as well as public sector.

Listed among Top-100 Women in Tech in Europe 2012. Rotarian for over 17 years, Paul Harris Fellow (PHF), recipient of the National Rotary Award, the first female Governor of the District 1462 Lithuania.

Renata Damanskytė-Rekašienė is the Head of Legal at Maxima Grupė UAB, which owns Maxima retail chain in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as well as other businesses.

Previously, she held the position of the Chief Legal Counselor at Lithuanian state-controlled holding company EPSO-G UAB, being in charge of good corporate governance. Renata also has over 8 years of experience at TGS, one of the largest law firms in Lithuania, with focus of capital markets, restructuring and insolvency as well as corporate and commercial law. She was a leading contributor from jurisdiction of Lithuania to the Studies for the European Parliament regarding Corporate Social Responsibility.

Renata has been a member of the Lithuanian Bar Association since 2014.

She has a Master’s degree in commercial law from Vilnius Law University.

Simona Grinevičienė is Head of Organizational Development and Culture at Lithuanian state-owned holding company EPSO-G UAB, which controls a group of energy transmission and exchange companies.

Previously, Simona worked as the Head of Legal and Prevention Division Baltics at Gjensidige, a leading Nordic insurance group, and as the Legal Office Director at Ignitis grupė AB, one of the largest energy companies in the Baltic region.

During 20 years in both public and private sectors, she gained considerable expertise in various areas from law making to ensuring compliance to law.

Simona holds a Master’s degree in Law from Vilnius University and Business Management degree from the International Business School at Vilnius University. Simona is also a graduate of the BICG, having completed Board member education course in 2018.

Agnė Jonaitytė is a Partner with Primus law firm, where she heads finance and capital markets team.

She has been working with corporate, M&A and finance law for more than 18 years, and her extensive corporate governance knowledge has been built up by advising clients on various corporate governance issues as an external legal adviser as well as inhouse of a Nasdaq and Warsaw SE listed Lithuanian entity, where she acted in various positions, i.e. as a Board member responsible for corporate governance, investor relations and sustainability matters, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs and later on as a Corporate Secretary.

Agnė continues to advice clients on various corporate governance issues on a daily basis as an external legal adviser and provider of professional corporate secretary services.

Agnė is also a graduate of both BICG Board member and Chair education programs.

Gediminas Varnas is the Legal and Compliance Officer at Nasdaq Baltic business unit.  In addition to his relevant duties and position of a Member of the Management Board at Nasdaq Vilnius AB (stock exchange), he works with Nasdaq CSD SE (CSD) and Nasdaq Vilnius Services UAB (competence center).

Providing legal support to Nasdaq group entities since 2005, Gediminas holds legal and compliance responsibilities, which include corporate governance matters.

Gediminas graduated from the University of Konstanz (Germany) in 2004 with a Master’s degree in Law. He has been teaching various business law subjects to students at the Business School of Vilnius University since 2006.

Povilas Žukauskas is a Partner at Walless (Lithuania), one of the leading B2B law firms in the Baltic region.

He has over 15 years of experience representing private entities and persons in connection with mergers and acquisitions, shareholders‘ relations and shareholders‘ disputes, general corporate matters, corporate governance issues, restructuring and insolvency cases.

Povilas is a member of the Lithuanian Bar Association since 2012 and a member of the Association of Financial Analysts (Lithuania; FAA) since 2020.

Povilas graduated from Mykolas Romeris University (Master of Law 2008) and received Master of Business Administration at Baltic Management Institute (BMI) in 2018.

Rytis Ambrazevičius has 20 years of experience in top level positions at various international and local companies, including  Omnitel (now Telia Lietuva, part of the Telia group), Mandatum Life Baltics, Sampo Life (Lithuania), Falck Security (now G4S) and SBA Group.

During the last decade, he held different positions in the Boards of directors at numerous businesses, including Sampo group companies and such Lithuanian state-controlled companies as Klaipėdos nafta and EPSO-G. Currently, he is chairing the Board of Topo grupė, owner of the largest household appliances and electronics retail chain in Lithuania, as well as serving on the Board of Vilniaus vandenys, the largest water supply company in the country.

Rytis graduated with honours from Kaunas Technology University (Mechanical engineering), from International Business School at Vilnius University (BSc Management and Business Administration and MBA International trade). He also graduated from the BICG in 2012 (board member certificate) and in 2013 (chairperson’s certificate).

Andris Grafs is experienced in various corporate governance matters, especially from the shareholder perspective in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). He has acted in several leading positions in public policy institutions and non-profits, thus obtaining practical experience and competences in strategic planning, management and advocacy at a senior level.

Andris is a co-author of the Latvian Government’s concept of reforms on the governance of SOEs and respective national legislation (approved in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2021), a co-author of the Latvian Corporate Governance Code (2020) and one of the authors of a binding ownership policy on how Riga city-owned companies are governed (2020). He has also been involved with the Organisation’s for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Party on State Ownership and Privatisation Practices (2011-2014).

Currently, Andris is also chairing the Supervisory Board at Liepāja University and the Advisory Council for improving governance of companies owned by the Riga city. Andris represents BICG in the Corporate Governance Advisory Council under the Latvian Ministry of Justice, responsible for developing and updating the Latvian Corporate Governance Code as well as promoting its implementation.

He holds an EMBA focusing on the embedding of ESG in the company’s business model from Riga Business School, where he is now a guest lecturer.

Erik Sakkov has 25 years of experience working in top management positions in Estonian companies, including Union Bank of Estonia (now SEB), Port of Tallinn, NT Marine, Tallinn Airport and Nordica.

As a volunteer, he acts as an Honorary Consul of Belgium in Estonia and chairs the Supervisory Board of the cancer treatment foundation The Gift of Life.

He graduated the Estonian Business School with an Executive MBA degree in 2003.