Executive Officers

Kanat Mynzhanov, 40
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Mynzhanov was the Chief Executive Officer and director of Oxus Acquisition Corp., a black check company, from its inception in February 2021 until its merger with Borealis Foods Inc., a food tech company with a mission to address growing consumer needs and global food security challenges, in February 2024. Mr. Mynzhanov has served as a member of the board of directors of Borealis Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: BRLS) since February 2024. Mr. Mynzhanov was the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bellprescot Asset Management, an asset management firm and Bellprescot Prime Fund, a hedge fund, with a focus of investments in technology driven public companies, including internet of things and cloud, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, machine learning, semiconductors, cybersecurity and robotics, since September 2016 to June 2020. Since 2018, Mr. Mynzhanov advised on several private equity deals in fintech (payments, remittances and alternative financing), mobility (including EV battery metals and EV battery technology) and structured products, including tokenization and syndicated co-lending. Prior to founding the hedge fund, Mr. Mynzhanov served as the head of investments at Kazatomprom-Damu, a subsidiary of NAC Kazatomprom JSC, the world’s largest uranium producer, which fuels carbon-free electricity generation at nuclear power facilities around the globe, where he spearheaded mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and business development initiatives within the metals and mining, rare metals, and alternative energy sectors. Mr. Mynzhanov’s career with NAC Kazatomprom JSC began in March 2014, where he oversaw various projects and forged valuable relationships with key industry players. From March 2011 to March 2014, Mr. Mynzhanov’s experience included leadership roles in the crude oil maritime transportation sector and consulting for firms seeking capital and business development solutions. Mr. Mynzhanov holds a Master of Science from University of Westminster.

Askar Mametov, 40
Chief Financial Officer and Director

Mr. Mametov served as Oxus’ Chief Financial Officer from Oxus’ inception in February 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Mametov has over 15 years of executive experience in mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and transportation industries with a thorough understanding of financial reporting (US GAAP and IFRS), taxation and accounting, financial planning and analysis. Mr. Mametov has served as the Director of Kaznedraproject LLP, a private Kazkh oil and gas exploration company, since July 2019. Previously, Mr. Mametov served as chief financial officer of KM Gold Inc., a public Kazakh gold mining company (KASE: KMGD) from August 2016 until October 2019. He led the process of public listing of the company on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange in 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Mametov served as financial controller of Sequa Petroleum Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Sequa Petroleum, an oil and gas company, listed on Euronext Access (EPA: MLSEQ) from January 2014 to July 2016. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Mametov served in multiple roles at Caspian Services Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSV), including management reporting, US GAAP financial reporting, as well as IFRS financial reporting for Kazakhstani Stock Exchange (KASE: US_CSSV). In 2007, Mr. Mametov worked at Beeline Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of VEON (Nasdaq: VEON). VEON (formerly Vympelcom). From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Mametov served as financial reporting specialist and consortium accountant in PetroKazakhstan Inc. (TSX: PKZ), a Canadian oil company. Mr. Mametov is a member of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) and since 2014, has served as the President of Kazakhstan Chapter of IMA. Mr. Mametov earned a B.S. in Accounting and MBA in Financial Reporting from KIMEP University.

Board of Directors

Christophe Charlier, 52
Director Nominee

Mr. Charlier is an international financier with over 25 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and international management. Throughout his career he has acted as principal or advised on a number of landmark transactions in the telecoms, financial services, natural resources and sports and entertainment industries across developed and emerging markets. He has served as an independent director of La Française de l’Energie, a French clean energy production company, since April 2016 and chairman of Pure Grass Films, a UK-based film and TV series production company, since 2012. He served as a co-Chairman of Agri-Fintech Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Tingo Inc.) (“Agri-Fintech”), an African fintech company, from September 2021 to April 2023. Mr. Charlier served as chairman of the board of directors of Renaissance Capital, a leading investment bank focused on emerging and frontier markets, from April 2017 to March 2020. As Chairman, Mr. Charlier coordinated the work of Renaissance Capital’s board of directors and oversaw strategic development, the global brand, and relationships with key clients and stakeholders globally. Previously, Mr. Charlier served as deputy CEO of Onexim Group, a leading private equity fund based in Moscow, from September 2008 to June 2014. In this capacity, he served on the boards of directors of several of Russia’s largest companies including RusAl, Polyus Gold, Quadra-Power Generation, and RBC. He also acted as chairman of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets franchise from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, from February 2002 to March 2004, Mr. Charlier was director of strategic development of Norilsk Nickel, leading its acquisition of strategic stakes in Stillwater Mining Company and Gold Fields. He started his investment banking career in 1995 at JPMorgan in the M&A Group in New York. Mr. Charlier graduated cum laude in Finance from the Wharton School and in International Relations from the College of Arts & Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania in 1994. On April 24, 2023, Mr. Charlier resigned as a director (including as co-Chairman) of Agri-Fintech. In his resignation letter, a copy of which was filed by Agri-Fintech as an exhibit to the current report on Form 8-K it filed to report his resignation, Mr. Charlier expressed concerns regarding the company’s corporate governance practices and management, and indicated that he would not be in a position to approve the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. In October 2023, Mr. Charlier filed a lawsuit against Agri-Fintech and its Chief Executive Officer alleging, among other things, fraud and breach of contract for failing to pay Mr. Charlier cash and equity compensation owed to him for his prior service as a director. In December 2023 the SEC filed a complaint against Agri-Fintech, its Chief Executive Officer and certain affiliated entities and obtained a temporary asset freeze and other emergency relief against the defendants, and in January 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that it had unsealed an indictment against the Chief Executive Officer, charging him with securities fraud, among other things.

Marsha Kutkevich, 44
Director Nominee

She has served as a Founder and COO of EMVirya Ltd, an FCA regulated investment advisor based in London, since February 2018. EMVirya Ltd, is a privately held financial services firm with extensive experience in global emerging markets that is positioning itself at the crossroads of Emerging markets and renewable energy. Prior to founding EMVirya, Ms. Kutkevitch worked as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs from April 2015 to Sept 2016 in London. From 2003 to 2015 Ms. Kutkevitch was a Managing Director at Barclays Capital (Barclays Investment Bank). Ms. Kutkevitch helped to open the local office and integrate the local entity purchased by the bank. She ran a business at both Barclays and Goldman whose clients were corporates, financial institutions and governmental organizations. She advised them on best capital raising practices as well as asset liability management. Ms. Kutkevitch graduated Durham University with BSc in Natural Sciences.

Darrell Mays, 60
Director Nominee

He is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Mays//Mock Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on the TMT, Transportation and Energy sectors. The firm targets companies that serve large-SMBs to enterprise customers that want an opportunity to work with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified companies. Mr. Mays served on the board of directors of American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc., formerly known as Pensare Acquisition Corp., from July 2017 until May 2023. He also served as Chief Executive Officer between July 2021 and August 2022 and also between July 2017 and September 2020. American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in January 2023. Mr. Mays was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of nsoro, a turnkey wireless installation services provider, from 2003 to 2008, which was acquired by MasTec in August 2008. Mr. Mays served as an executive of MasTec from August 2008 to December 2016. Mr. Mays holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Georgia State University.