A seasoned tech leader and advisor, over the last 20 years, Helen has worked closely with family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors across America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, driving innovation, AI adoption, and digital growth.

As Chief AI and Data Officer, Helen leads Apex Group’s global AI and data science strategy and innovation, embedding intelligence across operations, products to deliver smarter, faster, and more secure services to clients. A published author and sought-after speaker at MIT, Harvard, Columbia University, Industrial AI Forum, and government intuitions. Helen also serves as an industry mentor at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute, where she supports emerging innovations in AI and sustainability.

Rajiv Kochhar is a Financial Services professional with over 35 years of experience and an Entrepreneur for the past two decades with interests across Investment Banking & Asset Management.

Post a decade of experience with various organisations including the Tata Group , Rajiv founded Avista Advisory as his first entrepreneurial initiative in India in the year 2000 as a Mid-Market Investment bank focused on the high growth mid-tier corporates who had growing needs of capital raising, M&A advisory and financial restructuring . In line with the vision and growth plans of building an international platform, Avista moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2008 & based on the reputation built up by Avista in the Asian region, the company received a strategic investment in 2010 from Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI) (“HL”), the prestigious U.S. based investment bank to grow the business across Asia. The partnership with HL helped Avista build internal systems and processes to look, feel and operate like a global investment bank which combined with the existing expertise, knowledge, experience and understanding of the Asian business culture.

Over the past 25 years, Rajiv has grown Avista into a Pan-Asian financial services group with expertise across Investment banking & Asset management. The firm currently has a strong presence in Singapore & India. The past decade has been a game changer as Avista has grown into a significantly larger organisation with deeper knowledge of the markets, with experienced professionals and strong execution capabilities across products and markets.

Having built the foundation of a robust Investment banking business, Rajiv key objective now is to grow the footprint of Avista both in terms of markets served and also product offering across all the businesses and create an Institution which spells quality and service across the Asian region.

His dream is to be the first real Pan Asian investment bank similar to the likes of several US Mid-Market banks to cater to the growing needs of Asian entrepreneurs & Financial Sponsors who need the expertise of experienced Investment banks with local knowledge of the Asian markets, He feels the “Time is now “ and the next 5 years is the “ high growth period “ for Avista to dig its heels & build a High Quality Institution which Asia needs .

As a respected professional Rajiv has been invited to be part of various forums including Co-Chair of US Trade Mission to Singapore, he has also served on the panel for Hong Kong and Tokiyo. Member of the Asia Milken Summit Management Committee and G1 Summit. He is a member of various committees of the International Trade Council including -- Banking & Trade Finance. As a member of the ASEAN CEO Club he has contributed ideas and his network towards growing investment in the ASEAN region. Rajiv has been a regular participant at the Horasis Conferences in Vietnam since 2018. Rajiv, through Avista has co- sponsored the Morrison Global Conference for “Building Global Markets Community and Access Capital” in Singapore December 2024.

Rajiv is currently also collaborating with Singapore Management University (SMU) to develop a Co-Branded Masters Program in Investment Management & Banking for mid career professionals.

Rajiv graduated with a degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, combined with a professional degree in Accounting. In addition, Rajiv has an MBA in Finance from SP Jain Institute of Management, Mumbai and has also attended the prestigious Owner President Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

He currently resides in Singapore with Monica, his wife and business partner. They have two sons Aditya & Karan who are Finance professionals , having graduated from prestigious US Universities and gained valuable experience at US Investment banks , VC funds , Credit funds & Fintech groups, and now part of the Avista team and are very focused and eager to carry on the legacy of Avista as Next- Gen Entrepreneurs & bring new thoughts to take the business to the next level .