About Luca Zelli

Professional Expertise

I specialise in Risk and Compliance mandates across Investment Management, Private Equity, VC, Hedge Funds and FinTech. I partner with organisations on critical build-outs, niche and problem hires, ensuring they have the leadership and functional capability to meet their strategic objectives while maintaining robust regulatory standards.

Career Summary

With over 8 years of experience in recruitment, I have developed a strong track record across Investment Management, Private Equity, VC, Hedge Funds and FinTech in EMEA and beyond. I have engaged as a Strategic Recruitment Advisor to Global Firms, advisory to C-suite members on function build outs. In addition, to recruiting and successful placement of C-Suite members, Directors and Head of Functions (i.e. holding prescribed responsibilities e.g. Authorised and controlled Functions on behalf of Firms) across Operations, Risk, Compliance and Front Office.

Since relocating to Dubai, I specialise in Investment Banking, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Private Equity, Venture Capital and Fintech across the GCC, covering Senior management to C-suite Risk and Compliance professionals.

My ability to adapt to diverse markets and understand client needs has allowed me to consistently deliver high-quality results.

Why Recruitment?

I love my profession, because it is a relationship and people-driven business. I enjoy the collaboration and providing solutions to pain points. This career has given me the opportunity to connect with top leaders in their fields and help people land life-changing opportunities. It’s rewarding, exciting and motivating.

Industry Insights

Sovereign wealth funds are scaling global investment platforms and bringing more regulatory, transaction and governance capability in-house, driving sustained demand for senior risk, compliance and portfolio oversight leaders.
Private equity and private credit firms are similarly internalising more regulatory work—fund formation, investor reporting, and AML/KYC—resulting in steady hiring of compliance and legal specialists as deal flow and regulatory complexity increase.
Venture capital funds remain smaller but are growing; most still rely on outsourced or transactional support, though a gradual shift toward fractional or eventual in-house compliance leadership is emerging as funds mature.
FinTech and virtual-asset firms are the fastest-expanding segment: increasingly sophisticated regulatory environments (ADGM, DFSA, SAMA, CMA) are driving aggressive hiring for AML, payments compliance, regulatory product roles and VASP-specific compliance, with premium compensation for candidates experienced in regulated digital-asset products.

Approach to Recruitment

As an experienced and accomplished senior appointments consultant my approach has always been relationship driven, adding value wherever possible, as a result, I build positive long standing business relationships and act as a global connector between clients and candidates.

Why Aventus?

As the old saying goes, “people buy people first” Aventus is a dynamic boutique search business built on trust and relationships. The founders have a clear and exciting vision for the future of the business. Throughout the process it was the discovery with the founders and directors and how they approached business which made me choose to work with them.

Fun Fact

I am half Italian and I speak roman dialect, if you need an itinerary for a trip to Rome, I’m your man!