Who Are We

On-the-Ground Experts / Opportunity-Focused

Our blend of in-country credibility and global analytical capability positions Frontline Intelligence to surface intelligence and relationships unavailable through conventional sources.

The Team

A Team with Geo-Economic, Market Intelligence & Publishing Expertise

Jeff Swartz

Executive Chairman

Bio ▾

Jeff is the CEO and Co-Founder of Nexia Group Holdings, parent company of Frontline Intelligence. He has 35+ years of experience launching and leading B2B software, data, and analytics companies across sectors including agtech, energy, and food safety. As CEO of Corvium, he led the company through growth and exit via acquisition by Neogen in 2023. He has deep experience raising capital, navigating early-stage markets, and building high-impact data businesses.

David Godfrey-Thomas

CEO

Bio ▾

David is an international finance executive and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in sustainable investment, blended finance, and emerging-market development. As CEO of Afina International and Chairman of the Center of Excellence in Life Science, Agriculture, and Bioingenuity (CE-LAB) in Kiev, he has structured major cross-border financing initiatives across Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. David brings deep relationships across financial institutions, development agencies, and government partners, positioning Frontline Intelligence at the center of the capital flows shaping Ukraine’s reconstruction and the global regenerative transition.

Andy Jacobson

President

Bio ▾

Andy is an experienced operating executive, investor, and advisor with four decades of leadership across B2B media, information services, market research, SaaS, and data analytics. He has founded and managed multiple companies, invested over $300 million as a deal sponsor, and served on investment committees overseeing more than $400 million in transactions. Earlier in his career, Andy sold his start-up regulatory information company to Pearson PLC and built a new business information division for The Washington Post Company. His background spans private equity, structured finance, B2B media, and strategic advisory, with a consistent focus on turning data and information assets into scalable commercial platforms.

Rich Alires

Chief Commercial Officer

Bio ▾

Rich leads Frontline Intelligence’s commercial strategy, client partnerships, and business development. He has built and scaled B2B intelligence and data businesses serving corporate and institutional clients across multiple sectors. His experience includes leadership in market insights, sales operations, and digital subscription models, with a strong focus on delivering measurable value and long-term client relationships. At Frontline Intelligence, Rich is responsible for expanding the firm’s subscriber base, managing strategic alliances, and guiding the rollout of new intelligence products and services.

Vitaliy Skotsyk

Managing Partner, Ukraine & Central Asia

Bio ▾

Vitaliy is a Ukrainian economist and business leader with over 25 years of experience in agricultural development, policy, and education. A former Chairman of the Agrarian Party of Ukraine, he has been a leading national voice on land reform, food security, and sustainable agriculture. Vitaliy serves as President of the Center of Excellence in Life Science, Agriculture, and Bioingenuity (CE-LAB) and lectures in strategic leadership at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. He holds a Doctorate in Economics from that institution and completed advanced studies at Purdue University in the United States.

James Hodson

Managing Partner

Bio ▾

James is CEO and founder of the AI for Good Foundation, a UN-backed organization advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence in business and society, and co-founder of Economists for Ukraine. He previously led global AI research initiatives at Bloomberg, where he helped pioneer large-scale machine learning applications for financial data and natural language processing. Since 2022, he has provided policy and economic advisory support to the Ukrainian government and authored technology-driven transformation strategies for multiple national economies.

Yianni Papadopoulos

Chief Platform Officer

Bio ▾

Yianni oversees Frontline Intelligence’s data architecture, analytics, and technology platform development, ensuring that the firm’s intelligence products are scalable, secure, and user-driven. His career spans digital product design, systems integration, and applied analytics, with experience building technology solutions for finance, media, and policy clients. Yianni brings a deep understanding of how data systems and human insight intersect — a foundation for Frontline Intelligence’s hybrid model that combines AI-enabled analysis with expert interpretation.

Mark Kissman

CFO

Bio ▾

Mark brings 30+ years of finance, strategy, and investor relations experience across public and private technology companies. Most recently CFO of Pathlock, a PE-backed enterprise software firm, he previously served as CFO of NASDAQ-listed Ulticom and held senior roles in U.S. and European tech businesses.

Haley Swartz

Managing Editor

Bio ▾

Haley designs and leads Frontline Intelligence’s market research function and is author of Frontline’s annual commercial Playbook — with sector dives on agrifood, energy, and defense. Haley also leads in the creation of Frontline Intelligence’s ongoing opportunity analysis and tracker program. The Playbook and opportunity analyses form the backbone of Frontline Intelligence’s advisory offering to clients regarding foreign direct investment on $80B+ of opportunities for rebuilding Ukraine’s agricultural sector and broader upcoming $800 billion reconstruction efforts.

Advisory Network

A Leadership Network with Proven Access

Vitalie Buzu

Bio ▾

Vitalie is a veteran AgTech entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience. He founded GreenoSoil AG, a digital platform for regenerative agriculture, and led Intterra JSC, Eastern Europe’s largest independent AgTech firm. He has managed $350M+ in capital and scaled operations across climate tech and agriculture.

Andy Ziolkowski

Bio ▾

A 30-year VC veteran, Andy has led healthcare and tech investments at SAE Ventures and Forest Street Capital. He currently represents Cultivian Sandbox on multiple boards and brings deep experience in early-stage strategy.

Ron Meeusen

Bio ▾

Co-founder of Cultivian Ventures, Ron has led breakthrough innovation in crop genetics and ag-bio commercialization. He serves on multiple boards and is an authority on scaling technologies that support sustainable agriculture and biotech regulation.

Stuart Orr

Bio ▾

Stuart Orr has deep international experience across water, climate, biodiversity, and nature finance. A former WWF global Freshwater Practice Lead, he has delivered transformative projects and built cross-sector partnerships with development banks, UN agencies, NGOs, and industry. A recognized thought leader and published author, Stuart advises boards and councils on valuing water, risk and resilience, and financing conservation. He brings a practical, outcomes-focused approach to aligning environmental objectives with economic development.

David Hatch

Bio ▾

David leads CMO-in-Residence, a marketing strategy and execution services firm. Formerly VP of Digital Solutions Marketing at Neogen, where he led strategy for data platforms improving food safety and supply chain performance. He brings 25+ years of experience in marketing software and analytics to food and ag systems.

Tim Kinsella

Bio ▾

Bio coming soon.

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