has 14 years of experience in the banking industry with a focus on strategic planning and corporate development. He was previously a Vice President with The Chase Manhattan Bank in New York.

In the International Sector at Chase he managed projects involving strategy, problem solving and the evaluation of new business ventures. Also at Chase, in the Corporate Development Department, he had a major role on the Merchant Banking Strategy Task Force and a major role in evaluating Chase venture capital and development finance activities.

His Middle East experience includes a consulting position as Strategic Planning Advisor to the chairman and senior management of The Bank of Kuwait and The Middle East, where he completed studies and recommendations regarding the mission, objectives and strategy for the investment, corporate/ commercial banking, international banking and retail banking lines of business.

Also in the Middle East, he was a Project Manager at the Saudi Industrial Development Fund in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was responsible for evaluating and financing the start-up of new business ventures in a variety of industries.

Mr. Haacke is a US national. His education includes an MBA from the University of Chicago in finance and international business and a BS from Lehigh University with a major in accounting.