「」Relationships

The strength of a firm is defined not by its size, but by the discretion and judgment of those it trusts.

People.

Arno Saffran | Founder

Arno founded VSG as a specialist advisory firm focused on senior-level commercial appointments in energy, infrastructure, and extractives. His work centres on identifying the individuals who drive growth in complex, often high-friction markets—where access, alignment, and judgment matter as much as capability.

He began his career at McKinsey & Company, advising global industrial clients on market entry, localisation, and commercial strategy. He later joined a geopolitical advisory firm, supporting multinationals as they navigated stakeholder landscapes and aligned global intent with local realities—particularly in jurisdictions where commercial progress requires more than process.

These experiences—across strategy, politics, and execution—led Arno to establish VSG. His clients are typically navigating high-value opportunities in unfamiliar environments and require leaders who can operate at the intersection of policy, partnership, and delivery.

Arno is known for his discretion, contextual understanding, and ability to translate strategic ambition into precise leadership outcomes. He holds a law degree from King’s College London and works internationally, engaging primarily through referrals.

Sam Weiber | Partner

Sam advises clients across energy, infrastructure, and extractive markets on senior appointments and discreet commercial buildouts in complex jurisdictions. His practice focuses on individuals who navigate informal networks, regulatory asymmetry, and pre-commercial inroads—often where conventional approaches do not apply.

Prior to joining VSG, Sam held roles in private advisory and institutional engagement, working across Europe. He brings particular insight into stakeholder alignment under pressure and the unseen dynamics that shape access and decision-making.

Educated in business and management at the Université de Fribourg, Sam is based in Geneva and works selectively—primarily by introduction.

A Connected Practice

While VSG remains deliberately small, its reach is broad.

Arno draws on a quiet network of long-standing collaborators—individuals with deep familiarity in specific sectors, markets, or institutional contexts. These relationships are informal, trusted, and activated only when the brief requires them.

On select mandates, VSG partners with Egon Zehnder to escalate searches, leveraging EG’s extended market mapping and research support: allowing for greater scale while maintaining the discretion and precision that defines VSG’s approach.

This model—focused, connected, and highly selective—enables VSG to deliver outcomes in environments where conventional search often fails to reach.

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