10 heads of corporate development
Each of these heads of corporate development holds the job today, at companies from Coinbase, Reddit and Nubank to Starbucks, Haleon, Viatris and AIA Hong Kong and Macau. Three cite 35 or more completed transactions, and others pair the job with venture investing, strategic alliances or strategy in their titles. For a company setting up corporate development for the first time, they can say who should own sourcing, diligence and integration.
Professionals to explore
Aklil Ibssa
LinkedInExperience: VP, Head of Corporate Development · Coinbase
Aklil Ibssa has been VP, Head of Corporate Development at Coinbase since July 2019, leading global corporate development across M&A, strategy, integration and strategic investments, with over 40 completed acquisitions. Aklil has also been a Board Observer at CoinDCX since 2026, and was a Product Manager at LinkedIn (2015-2019) and in Investment Banking at Deutsche Bank (2013-2015). The pick for running a steady acquisition program.
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Alex S.
LinkedInExperience: Head of Corporate Development · AIA Hong Kong and Macau
Since August 2024, Alex S. has been Head of Corporate Development at AIA Hong Kong and Macau, identifying, pursuing and managing strategic partnerships and inorganic opportunities for that business. Alex was Associate Director, Group Strategy at AIA (2021-2024) and Senior Manager, Strategy at EY-Parthenon (2017-2021). A fit for partnership and inorganic growth questions within one market business of AIA.
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Biplab Chakraborty
LinkedInExperience: SVP and Head of Corporate Development · Hexaware Technologies
SVP and Head of Corporate Development at Hexaware Technologies since March 2023, Biplab Chakraborty took the role after Head of Investment at Rebel Foods (2022-2023). Biplab was Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at Tech Mahindra (2011-2021) and has executed 35+ transactions spanning acquisitions, divestitures, strategic partnerships, joint ventures and startups, with cross-border deals. Strong on cross-border M&A questions.
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Daniel Kutner
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of Corporate Development & Strategy · Nubank
In São Paulo, Daniel Kutner has been Global Head of Corporate Development & Strategy at Nubank since July 2025, after Corporate Development and M&A Director there (2021-2025). Daniel was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company (2015-2021) and a Junior Professional Associate at The World Bank Group (2012-2014), and suits questions on moving from consulting into an in-house M&A role.
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Emily Moskowitz
LinkedInExperience: Head of Corporate Development (M&A, Investments, Strategy) · Mozilla
Emily Moskowitz has been Head of Corporate Development (M&A, Investments, Strategy) at Mozilla since 2022, covering M&A, investments, strategic analysis and partnerships and scaling the corporate development function. Emily has also been Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Storm Ventures since 2026, and was Interim Director & Head of Corporate Development at Zynga (2010-2015) and an Independent Sponsor & Consultant at EMosk LLC (2016-2022).
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Michael Guptan
LinkedInExperience: Global Head of Corporate Development & Venture Investments (TD7) · The Trade Desk
Global Head of Corporate Development & Venture Investments (TD7) at The Trade Desk since June 2025, Michael Guptan held three Walmart titles: Senior Vice President - International Strategy, M&A and Partnerships (2023-2025), Senior Vice President - Global Head of Corporate Development & CFO of US Financial Services (2021-2023) and VP Finance, Global Head of Corporate Development (2019-2021), and led the $2.3B Vizio acquisition.
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Paul Mohme
LinkedInExperience: Head of Corporate Development · Reddit, Inc.
Paul Mohme has been Head of Corporate Development at Reddit, Inc. since February 2022 and has closed more than 35 transactions across deal sourcing, negotiation and M&A execution. Paul was an M&A Consultant at Palladium Equity Partners, LLC (2021-2022) and worked in Corporate Development at Discord (2020-2021) and GTG Capital Partners (2016-2020). Suits questions on target identification and deal sourcing.
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Shawn Smith
LinkedInExperience: Head of Corporate Development and Strategic Alliances · Starbucks
Strategic alliances sit alongside M&A in Shawn Smith's title, Head of Corporate Development and Strategic Alliances at Starbucks since July 2025, held after Director Corporate Development there (2020-2025). Shawn's other Starbucks titles are Director Marketing and Loyalty Finance (2016-2020), Senior Finance Manager (2014-2016) and Treasury Manager (2013-2014). Useful for questions on setting up strategic alliances alongside M&A from a finance background.
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Stephen Davis, ACA
LinkedInExperience: Head of Corporate Development · Haleon
Tesco titles came before Haleon for Stephen Davis, ACA: Senior Corporate Finance Manager (2018-2020), Head of Corporate Finance & Strategy, Central Europe (2020-2021) and Co-Head of Group Corporate Development (2021-2023). Stephen has been Head of Corporate Development at Haleon since September 2023 and has experience in valuations, financial modelling, negotiations, sale and purchase agreements and bidder screening.
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Yi Cai
LinkedInExperience: Head of Corporate Development · Viatris
Defining new market spaces and business models for Viatris China beyond the legacy LOE portfolio is part of Yi Cai's remit as Head of Corporate Development at Viatris since September 2024, along with designing and negotiating partnership and financing structures with outside partners including PE and VC. Yi was Head of Digital Health Solutions at Viatris (2021-2024) and co-founded CHIC Health (2020-2021).
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Choose the right perspective
If acquisitions are the main job, Aklil Ibssa, Paul Mohme and Biplab Chakraborty cite the largest deal counts, and Michael Guptan worked on the Vizio acquisition at Walmart. For venture investments and partnerships, Michael Guptan, Yi Cai and Alex S. are closer fits. Emily Moskowitz has scaled corporate development teams, and Shawn Smith and Stephen Davis, ACA bring corporate finance and strategy backgrounds.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What should the first hire in a corporate development team own: deal sourcing, diligence or integration?
- 02How do you build an acquisition pipeline before the board has approved a formal M&A budget?
- 03When is a minority investment or partnership a better first step than buying a company outright?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.