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ABOUT

Our future-ready investment approach is rooted in trust.

Robusto Capital is a people-powered investment and acceleration company headquartered in Abu Dhabi and regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

Founded in 2019 by CEO Josh Stewart, who has successfully raised and deployed over $100 million as an investor and entrepreneur, Robusto Capital has built an investment portfolio across aviation and energy in the private and non-profit sectors.

Our future-ready investment approach is rooted in trust, transparency, and alignment. Robusto Capital is powered by a passionate, results-driven team that strives for excellence in everything we do. In doing so, we ensure that collaboration, innovation, and empowerment lie at the heart of all our investments.

With a proven record of unlocking untapped growth potential, Robusto Capital focuses on specialized investment opportunities. We utilize expert management teams to execute our investments' strategic objectives, enabling us to establish strong business relationships, create sustained value, and generate significant long-term returns.

A closely held and aligned investment group is at the core of our success. This is the same group of like-minded investors that came together to challenge the status quo with the launch of XJet, the world's number-one private aviation company. Since then, we have continued to invest together, consistently achieving exceptional results over the past two decades.

Shaped by success, strengthened by human potential, and driven by the Educo Model®, Robusto Capital continues to grow its investment portfolio through win-win bilateral collaborations, strategic business partnerships, and impactful investments.

Values

  • Trust

    Trust is at the center of every investment, partnership, and relationship we make. We achieve long-term alignment in all our business relationships by continuously cultivating a culture of trust and responsibility.

  • Transparency

    Transparency is integral to any investment. We uphold the highest standards of transparency, business ethics, and best practices, ensuring honesty and integrity lie at the heart of all our investments.

  • Alignment

    Alignment is fundamental to our business's success. That is why we are committed to building enduring business relationships and maintaining the long-term alignment of our investment partnerships.

  • Innovation

    Innovation is critical in today's increasingly interconnected world. We are a team of strategic thinkers, creators, and change-makers who constantly seek to improve, enhance, and innovate across every industry we invest in.

  • Empowerment

    We value our people, partners, and the industries we invest in. We believe that empowerment is vital to long-term success. We give our people the freedom to lead, think creatively, and realize their full potential.

  • Excellence

    We strive for excellence in everything we do. We can achieve exceptional results by taking ownership of our responsibilities, adapting to change, embracing new challenges, and consistently raising standards.

Pillars

  • The Power of Potential

    Human potential is the most significant untapped resource. Through the Educo Model®, we can recognize and uncover the true potential of the people we work with – ensuring the power of potential is the key to our success.

  • Enduring Partnerships

    Solid and enduring partnerships are the cornerstone of our success. Our long-term business partnerships enable us to succeed with trust, transparency, and alignment at the foundation of our investments.

  • Challenging the Status Quo

    We challenge the status quo to set new benchmarks for excellence in every industry we invest in. By constantly redefining standards, disrupting industry norms, and pushing the boundaries, we repeatedly achieve exceptional.

Team

Founder & CEO
Josh Stewart

Josh Stewart is a seasoned leader in the aviation industry with over 30 years of experience and over 15 years of experience in the energy sector. As the Founding Chairman of the Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA), Josh represents Ireland on the International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) Governing Board and is committed to championing and helping safeguard an industry that he is deeply passionate about. Josh is also the founder and CEO of Robusto Capital and XJet.

A Belfast native and former RAF Volunteer Reserve pilot (ULAS), Josh has been a keen aviator since a young age and worked as a bush pilot in Africa during the early stages of his career. He provided humanitarian air support for many NGOs, including the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Red Cross. He has since accumulated over 5,000 flight hours as an FAA-rated Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and commercially rated helicopter pilot.

In 2003, Josh was introduced to the Educo® Model, and it was at this seminar that he developed his invincible vision for a new type of business aviation company, XJet®.

XJet® disrupted the status quo by designing a revolutionary business model with world-class facilities, seven-star service, transparent economics, and jet fuel at cost. In 2006, XJet constructed a new state-of-the-art facility in Denver, Colorado, which immediately established a new benchmark for business aviation. XJet consistently ranked as the number one business aviation company in the Americas for multiple consecutive years.

In 2014, XJet® secured the largest private hangar in Europe at London-Stansted Airport and carried out a comprehensive upgrade to cater to heads of state and the VVIP market. XJet London was awarded the top spot in the annual rankings for Europe and the rest of the world. Under Josh’s leadership, XJet® rapidly rose from an industry start-up to a challenger brand to the world’s number-one-ranked business aviation company.

In 2018, XJet completed an asset purchase sale with Tiger Infrastructure Partners ($3.2B AUM), with Josh retained as a strategic advisor. Tiger utilized XJet to create and develop an FBO network with Modern Aviation’s platform, growing from just one location with the acquisition to 16 locations. In 2023, Apollo (NYSE: APO—$512B AUM) acquired a majority stake in Modern Aviation. Apollo Funds and affiliated entities have invested over $12 billion in the aviation industry. Josh has retained ownership of the XJet® model and trademark and continues to seek new opportunities.

Josh has 15 years of experience in the energy sector outside of aviation. He was a director and shareholder in Belize Natural Energy (BNE) from 2008 to 2020. BNE, founded by a group of Irish investors trained in the Educo® Model, came together and discovered the first oil in Belize. A 97% Belizean team powers BNE and has consistently been the number-one revenue generator in Belize, contributing more than US $250 million in government revenues and gaining global recognition for its award-winning holistic model.

At BNE, Josh saw an opportunity to create and develop the country-to-country relationship between the UAE and Belize, as no formal links had previously existed between the two countries, resulting in virtually no trade or investments between them. He began by leading high-level government delegations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Belize. He was subsequently responsible for establishing formal bilateral relationships between the UAE and Belize, signing the bilateral trade and investor protection agreements at the United Nations Headquarters in 2015.

Following this, a bilateral economic cooperation agreement was signed at the UAE Ministry of Economy in 2019. As a result of these delegations, trade agreements, and treaties, investment has flowed from the UAE into Belize from both the government and private sectors as the county-to-county alliance continues to strengthen.

In 2019, Josh launched his own investment company, Robusto Capital, in the international financial center of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), unifying his business portfolio under one structure. Robusto Capital has active investments in the aviation, energy, and non-profit sectors as it continues to develop additional bilateral partnerships with new investments.

Chief Operating Officer/Country Manager
Stephen (Steve) DeSalvo

Steve has worked in the oil, gas, and aviation industries for the last 32 years. He has held C-level executive leadership roles in the three mission-critical components of a company: finance, operations, and business development. Steve has participated in the start-up teams of 3 companies, which raised over USD$50 million in private equity investment.

In 2018, Steve became Chief Operating Officer for Robusto Capital, overseeing and working with the management teams on its investments in aviation and energy companies. Prior to Robusto Capital, Mr. DeSalvo held leadership positions in oil and gas exploration, production, geoscience, and engineering companies. From 2006 to 2009, he was Chief Financial Officer for XJet.

Mr. DeSalvo graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Business/Accounting and earned his MBA from the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. He has also completed certification courses at the Colorado School of Mines in Oil and Gas Economics, Reserve Analysis, and Geology.

Office Manager
Rex Almazan

Rex Almazan is the Office Manager of Robusto Capital Holdings Limited and the virtual office administrator of the Irish Business & General Aviation Association, a national, not-for-profit association based in Ireland.

Rex Almazan is an experienced office manager, marketing specialist, and customer service professional. Driven by his aspirations, he takes pride in providing the best service possible. As an employee of Robusto Capital, his goals include fostering growth and development for both the company and himself as an individual.

Rex graduated from the University of Baguio in the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing Management. After earning his degree, he joined E-Precision Contact Solutions as an Outbound Sales Account Specialist. He also worked at SITEL, a BPO company, as a Customer Service Representative for accounts such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and First Data Resources Financial Services. Before joining First Data, Rex was an office secretary and a personal assistant at a construction development company in his hometown, Baguio City. Before his current role at Robusto Capital, he was a Concierge for Meraas Holding, A Dubai-based master developer.

Finance Director
Ahmad Malaz Zind Elhadeed

Ahmad Malaz Zind Elhadeed is the Finance Director of Robusto Capital Holdings Limited.

A seasoned finance industry professional, Zind Elhadeed has almost 17 Years of experience in international accounting and finance; he has held positions of Chief Accountant and Accounts Manager.

He entered the finance industry in 2003 as a Junior Accountant with Al Rashed Travel & Tourism Co. in Damascus, Syria.

In 2005, he secured an accountant position with Leisure Tech Group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In 2008, he was a General Accountant with a Golf Scaffolding Factory in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Shortly after, in 2010, he was appointed to represent Golf Scaffolding Factory, a new branch in Damascus, Syria, with Teamco International Trading & Contracting as Chief Accountant.

During the unsafe situation in Syria in 2013, Zind ElHadeed had to resign and move back to Dubai. When he got back, he was able to pursue his professional career and held a position as an Accounts Manager with the Executive Group.

In 2018, Zind ElHadeed met Mr. Joshua Stewart, CEO of Robusto Capital Holdings Limited, and started a business relationship with him as Finance In Charge in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In 2019, Robusto Capital Holdings Limited hired Zind ElHadeed as Corporate Accountant and Finance In Charge in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Senior Accountant
Ibrahim Banna

I am a senior accountant with over seven years of experience managing multiple accounting functions for a large Group of Companies within the UAE. My distinguished career reflects a track record of leading all financial and accounting activities to support commercial success and company growth.

Management specialist with extensive years of developing and overseeing entire Group Accounting, Audit, & Cash Control functions by utilizing a solid understanding of all accounting/financial management aspects or concepts. A resourceful leader who communicates a clear strategic vision, effectively leading highly skilled accounting teams to drive organizational success.

Track record of building trusted relationships at all organizational levels, especially with Executive Management, while providing advice, support, or consultancy on all financial or accounting matters. Adept at negotiations and collaboration with all concerned departments, banks, regulatory authorities, vendors, big companies, and all internal/external stakeholders via excellent communication skills.