Mark Clearwater

Group Director

Mark Clearwater leads the Atlas Portfolio and is responsible for the acquisition, integration and long term growth of vertical market software businesses serving a range of industries.  Mark works closely with founders and management teams of portfolio business to share best practices for sustainable growth and operational excellence, while nurturing the culture, industry connection and product innovation that make each business unique.

With more than 30 years’ experience in senior software and financial leadership roles, Mark leads the acquisition and ongoing operations of enterprise and B2B software companies. Mark works closely with founders and management teams to support sustainable growth while preserving what makes each business successful—its people, customers, and product.  Mark holds a Bachelor of IT from Queensland University of Technology and an MBA from Melbourne Business School with studies at the Kellogg and Otto Beisheim schools of management.

Mark Schmutter

Group Director

Mark Schmutter leads the Centaurus Portfolio and is responsible for the acquisition, integration and long term growth of vertical market software businesses serving a range of industries.   Mark works closely with founders and management teams of portfolio business to share best practices for sustainable growth and operational excellence, while nurturing the culture, industry connection and product innovation that make each business unique.

With over 30 years of experience across enterprise and retail software, Mark leads the acquisition and ongoing stewardship of a broad portfolio of companies. He brings deep operational expertise and a pragmatic approach to supporting founder-led businesses post-acquisition. Mark holds an Arts degree (Psychology) from Monash University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Information Technology from Swinburne University.

Luke Haites

Group Director

Luke Haites leads the Argo Portfolio and is responsible for the acquisition, integration and long term growth of vertical market software businesses serving a range of industries.   Luke works closely with founders and management teams of portfolio business to share best practices for sustainable growth and operational excellence, while nurturing the culture, industry connection and product innovation that make each business unique.

After completing a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Science, Luke has spent 30 years following his first passion of using software to create innovative solutions for real world problems, through roles in product, consultancy, sales, executive leadership and boards of directors.  Having sold a business to Vela 10 years ago, he has first hand insight into both sides of the acquisition journey, and the opportunities and challenges of integrating a business into the care of new owners.

Sebastian Ward

Head of M&A

Sebastian leads the M&A team at Vela APX. He joined Vela in 2021, initially working across the global portfolio and subsequently as part of Vela APX. Prior to Vela, Sebastian worked in EY’s Transaction Advisory team for 6 years. Sebastian is a member of the Chartered Accountants ANZ and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne. Based in Melbourne, Australia, he enjoys being active (cycling, skiing, triathlons, squash) and looks forward to teaching his young daughters to ski.

Ben Dowling

CFO

Ben is the CFO for the Vela APX group of companies, overseeing all financial operations for the group and business acquisitions and integrations through continued growth.

Holding degrees in Accounting and Economics and as a member of Chartered Accountants Australia, Ben also brings over 15 years of experience in the commercial sector, holding various roles in accounting, finance and M&A.

Keri Walker

M&A BD Team Manager

Keri is the M&A Business Development Team Manager at Vela APX, focused on finding acquisition opportunities that support Vela APX’s mission to acquire, manage and grow mission-critical software businesses around the world. Keri brings 15+ years of experience across senior sales leadership, partnerships, regulatory compliance, and commercial development, with time spent at organisations including Wiley, LexisNexis, SAI Global, and Lumley.

Leonid Morozov

M&A BDM

Leo is a BDM within the Vela APX M&A Team. Leo is focused on sourcing and evaluating software M&A opportunities globally, based between Victoria and Queensland. A CPA with a Bachelor of Finance from QUT and CFA Level I completed, he brings full-cycle deal experience gained through his seven years at Vela APX. Leo has a genuine curiosity about people and their stories, and outside of work pursues creative projects, explores human experiences and perspectives, enjoys fitness and purposeful travel, and is passionate about legacy, family, and meaningful connections.

Nic Berry

M&A BDM

Nic is BDM within the Vela APX M&A team, identifying software M&A opportunities. He focuses on long-term stewardship, ensuring that each business’s people, product, and legacy remain at the centre of every acquisition. With a background spanning technical support, implementations, customer retention, and sales, Nic has experienced the full SaaS customer lifecycle first-hand. He previously worked at a Vela-owned business, giving him a unique operational perspective on what life looks like after joining the Vela family.

SK Tan

M&A BDM

SK is a BDM within the Vela APX M&A Team. SK Tan joined Vela APX in 2024, bringing extensive regional experience in software enterprise sales and M&A dealmaking across Southeast Asia. His background in scaling software businesses and managing end-to-end transactions strengthens the firm’s ability in cross-border expansion, and value-creating acquisition opportunities.

Ben Frere

M&A BDM

Ben is a BDM within the Vela APX M&A Team, focusing predominantly on the New Zealand software market. Ben brings over 10 years of software and SaaS experience across both startups and corporate teams, with a focus on developing business. Originally from sunny Hawkes Bay he’s brought a love of sunshine, wine and beach days to his decade in Auckland.