Richard de Lima,
President and Chief Investment Officer

Mr. de Lima is a senior member of the LCP Investment Committee, responsible for capital deployment, investment selection, and portfolio oversight. He has over 30 years of experience across capital markets, operating leadership, and principal investing, with a focus on lower middle market and cross-border transactions.

Across his career, he has been involved in approximately $7 billion of equity transactions and $700 million of structured credit across sectors including real estate, infrastructure, life sciences, and consumer businesses. His work spans North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with a consistent focus on complex or transitional situations where structure and execution drive outcomes.

At Leaf Capital Partners, he directs investment strategy and portfolio management for the firm’s proprietary capital. The platform has deployed approximately $340 million of principal capital, generating approximately 24% net IRR and a 4.6x multiple, with losses concentrated in early-stage allocations and contained within low double-digit capital impairment ranges.

Earlier in his career, Mr. de Lima held senior roles in U.S. capital markets, including Institutional Asset Director and Head of Operations for a division overseeing a proprietary long/short investment platform with approximately $750 million under management. His responsibilities included trading operations, portfolio oversight, and risk management across liquid markets.

He also brings direct operating experience as a founder and chief executive. He co-founded and led a consumer beverage platform, scaling revenue from approximately $5 million to over $60 million, achieving gross margins of approximately 60% and EBITDA margins of approximately 30%, and exiting the business at approximately 8.0x EBITDA. He has also been involved in additional ventures across consumer products and media, including licensed product platforms generating approximately $18 million in annual revenue.

Mr. de Lima holds a Master’s degree in International Economics and Finance from Rutgers University and completed advanced studies in International Business Law at Fordham University. He previously held FINRA licenses Series 7, 24, 55, and 63. He is active in private investment networks, serves on multiple boards, and is engaged in initiatives focused on financial education and economic development in emerging markets.