Chairman and Managing Member of Protostar Partners LLC

Mr. Haviv's contributions to the MC Square team encompass strategic, financial, and operational expertise developed through a unique set of investment leadership experiences. 

Joe began his career at McKinsey & Company, across the Cleveland, Milan, Mexico and New York offices, serving industrial and consumer goods companies on performance maximization engagements (e.g. accelerated revenue growth or aggressive cost reduction). Mr. Haviv was one of the founders of the Firm's Operations practice and to this day his trademark is "Excellence through Execution".

Mr. Haviv's investment career began at EXOR S.A., the holding company of the Agnelli Group, where he was the lead professional responsible for major North American investments including Constitution Reinsurance, PartnerRe, Western Industries and others totaling over $900 million. 

In 1998, Joe joined First Atlantic Capital Ltd. with the express intent of growing the Private Equity Firm to new heights: capital under management grew five-fold to $425 million, and professional staff tripled, while early investments such as Otis Spunkmeyer baked goods yielded superior returns. 

In 2001 Mr. Haviv founded PROTOSTAR PARTNERS, a Private Equity Firm dedicated to acquiring portfolios of investment assets from other PE players (today's direct secondaries). Over the course of 15 years the Firm acquired over 50 companies, in a mix of control and minority investments (over $300 million in equity), and reshape the breakeven economics of many enterprises, while taking advantage of the "J-curve" effect to maximize returns. 

Mr. Haviv has served as active Chairman of the Board or Director in a wide variety of American and Italian enterprises refining company strategies, realigning organizations, and implementing thorough performance and results management systems. His "front line leadership" approach, together with fact-based decision making deliver high value to the businesses, while preserving management's independence and responsibilities. Investments also benefit greatly from his first-hand knowledge of market dynamics in many sectors and geographies.