People.

Arno Saffran | Founder

Arno Saffran founded VSG on a principle refined through his career: that in complex markets, commercial outcomes are determined by human factors long before formal processes begin.

His methodology was shaped by roles in extractive sector client development and deal advisory at KPMG, and in strategic commercial engagement conducted in affiliation with firms like Hakluyt. There, his work focused on stakeholder alignment and market access for major industrial and energy clients, where progress hinges on nuanced understanding, not just procedural rigor.

VSG is the embodiment of this focus. The firm works across the extractive value chain, positioning the leaders who form the critical bridge to early-stage relationships and commercial access. Arno advises a limited number of partners navigating high-value, high-context environments, ensuring their strategic intent is matched by the operational capability to deliver it.

He is known for his discretion and his ability to translate geopolitical and commercial nuance into precise leadership outcomes. He engages internationally through private referral.

Sam Weiber | Partner

Sam advises a select group of clients across energy, infrastructure, and extractive markets on leadership and commercial architecture for complex jurisdictions. His focus is on identifying operators who navigate informal networks and regulatory asymmetry to secure pre-commercial inroads where conventional processes fail.

His approach was developed through prior roles in private advisory and institutional engagement, where he cultivated a distinct understanding of stakeholder alignment under pressure and the unseen dynamics governing market access.

Sam brings this focus on the critical human factors of deal-making to his work at VSG. He is based in Geneva and engages primarily through referral.

A Connected Practice

VSG remains a compact firm by design. Our reach, however, is extended through a trusted network of specialist collaborators and, for select mandates, a peer partnership with Egon Zehnder.

This allows us to leverage global scale and research depth when necessary, while guaranteeing that every engagement receives the senior-level discretion and strategic focus that is our signature.

We are built to succeed where conventional search fails.

To learn more about how we work—or to discuss a potential engagement—please contact us directly.