Hilton Global Associates
ABOUT US
A worldwide research firm specializing in bespoke, hand-crafted investigations for both astute and novel consumers of due diligence.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Founder & CEO
MELISSA KELLEY-HILTON
For more than 26 years, Melissa Kelley-Hilton has worked at the forefront of global investigations and investigative due diligence, advising governments, financial institutions, investment firms, law firms, and multinational organizations on complex matters of risk, integrity, and reputation. Since 2009, she has specialized in citizenship- and residency-by-investment due diligence, working closely with governments and program authorities on applicant vetting, source of wealth and source of funds, enhanced due diligence, investigative interviews, financial and reputational risk, and complex cross-border matters.
Melissa founded Hilton Global Associates Inc. in 2020 around a fundamental belief: the future of investigations would depend not simply on access to more information, but on the ability to identify what matters, connect information across jurisdictions and data sources, and apply experienced human judgment to increasingly complex risk. That philosophy has shaped Hilton Global’s evolution into a sophisticated, technology-enabled investigative firm combining experienced investigators and analysts with global data, advanced research capabilities, proprietary technology, and artificial intelligence.
Under Melissa’s leadership, Hilton Global supports government and institutional clients around the world across investment migration, private equity, private credit, asset management, litigation, healthcare, third-party risk, and other high-stakes matters. Its investigations routinely cross borders, languages, corporate structures, financial interests, and information environments, requiring both sophisticated technology and the judgment, context, and instincts that come from decades of investigative experience.
Prior to Hilton Global, Melissa served as President of Bishops Services in New York City, where she led the company’s transformation from a five-person operation into an international investigative business with more than 100 employees and seven locations worldwide, including operations in Mumbai and Manila.
Melissa holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Florida Gulf Coast University and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified International Investigator (CII). She is a licensed private investigator in both New York and Florida, previously served as Secretary and a member of the Board of the Council of International Investigators, and is a member of the Investment Migration Council.
Over the course of her career, Melissa has built an extensive international network spanning government officials, regulators, investigators, intelligence professionals, attorneys, financial professionals, and other specialists. Her work has taken her around the world and has earned her recognition for leadership in investigations, due diligence, and entrepreneurship, including honors from the Stevie Awards, M&A Advisor, Wealth & Finance, and The Women’s Edge.
Partner
JENNIFER MANNINO
Jennifer Mannino specializes in intelligence gathering and investigative strategy, with a focus on identifying reputational risks, conflicts of interest, and unethical business practices affecting new investments, add-on acquisitions, and complex investigations.
Before joining Hilton Global Associates, Jennifer established and led in-house business units and external consultancy teams. Her expertise lies in supporting Integrity Due Diligence (IDD) checks for private equity, pension funds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). She also conducted third-party vendor and supplier risk assessments for multinational corporations (MNCs) and ensured Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) compliance for middle-market banks. Jennifer has a proven track record in fraud investigations for healthcare, pharmaceutical, and insurance companies. Additionally, she has handled complex class action litigation for oil and gas corporations and automobile manufacturers, as well as organized retail crime for luxury fashion, home improvement, and supermarket chains.
Jennifer plays a crucial role in auditing organizational background check procedures and provides consulting services to clients, offering methodologies to validate business relationships and beneficial ownership. Fluent in Greek, she is widely recognized as a subject-matter expert and public speaker on issues related to EDD, particularly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions and anti-corruption cases involving Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations (FCPA).
Jennifer has been recognized throughout her career for her professional impact and leadership. She was named to the Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2014, one of Arizona’s Most Influential Women in 2019, and Woman of the Year in 2025 by Citywealth PowerWomen Awards USA, receiving Gold in Government, Regulatory, and Compliance.
Partner
KERRY ANN SULLIVAN
Kerry Ann Sullivan brings extensive business intelligence and due diligence expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate research, and background investigations. Her experience spans working with clients in diverse sectors, including private equity, venture capital, endowments, pension funds, hedge funds, and investment banking, as well as collaborating with law firms.
Prior to joining Hilton Global Associates, Kerry Ann played a key role in leading complex deep-dive investigations, particularly in special acquisitions and IPO-enhanced due diligence matters. She has a proven track record of supporting risk-based investigations for M&A transactions involving middle-market private equity and venture capital firms. Kerry Ann has also collaborated with large sovereign wealth clients, conducting due diligence on portfolio managers, and has been involved in asset-tracing investigations for various law firm clients.
Kerry Ann’s expertise extends to mitigating risk for corporations by orchestrating in-depth diligence into the background, track record, and ongoing activities of board members and potential independent directors. She has actively participated as a subject-matter expert in roundtable discussions at alternative investment and chief financial officer conferences. Additionally, she holds the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and 100 Women in Finance.
Partner
BRIDGET BRADFORD
Bridget Bradford brings more than 15 years of experience in the screening and risk-mitigation industry, including over a decade focused on investigative due diligence and background investigations. She works closely with private equity firms, fund of funds, investment banks, lenders, and law firms, supporting pre-investment and risk-driven diligence across complex, high-stakes transactions.
As Managing Director of Global Sales at Hilton Global Associates, Bridget partners with clients and internal investigative teams to scope, position, and execute investigator-led background investigations aligned with deal priorities, regulatory considerations, and transaction timelines. Her role spans business development and strategic account management, with a focus on delivering tailored, actionable, and decision-focused diligence.
Prior to joining Hilton Global Associates, Bridget served as Sales Director at ethiXbase, a third-party risk-management software company. She previously held regional and senior sales leadership roles at Sterling/Sterling Diligence (formerly Bishops Services, Inc./Sterling Infosystems), a global investigative due diligence and background investigations firm, where she supported clients across financial services, private markets, and professional services. Bridget began her career at Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), working in business development within the Human Capital practice, selling best-practice research to Fortune 500 organizations.
Bridget earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a member of 100 Women in Finance.
Managing Director
ALEJANDRA JIMENEZ BERETTA
Alejandra Jiménez Beretta is a recognized leader in the field of international due diligence, with over a decade of experience in conducting and overseeing complex investigations. She currently heads Hilton Global’s Global Investigations Group, which specializes in Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) due diligence. In this role, Alejandra collaborates closely with governments to establish and uphold best practices while exploring innovative ways to integrate technology with human intelligence for enhanced investigative outcomes.
Previously, Alejandra served as Senior Manager at Bishops Services/Sterling Diligence, where she developed and refined her skills in managing high-level due diligence processes. Her extensive background makes her a key asset in providing strategic solutions that align with global compliance standards.
Alejandra is a sought-after speaker and panelist at international conferences, where she shares her expert insights on due diligence best practices, technological integration in investigations, and the evolving landscape of CBI and global risk management. Her dedication to precision, transparency, and innovation positions her as a highly respected voice in the industry.
Senior Director, Investigations
ALLISON DEWOLFE
Allison DeWolfe currently serves as Senior Director, Investigations at Hilton Global Associates, where she leads and supports investigative research and due diligence initiatives for clients in the asset allocator, operational due diligence, and private equity spaces. With a strong background in investigative analysis, she was previously Head of Due Diligence at Sterling Diligence (formerly Bishops Services, and now a First Advantage company), where she built a reputation for her meticulous research methods and strategic approach to complex investigations.
Allison began her tenure in this field as a Research Analyst at iVision International LLC, developing expertise in information gathering, analysis, and reporting across a range of investigative contexts. Allison earned her B.A. degree in International Relations and Spanish Language and Literature from Syracuse University.
Senior Director of Business Development
HEATHER CALABRET-MORISON
Heather Calabret-Morison serves as Senior Director of Business Development at Hilton Global Associates, bringing extensive experience supporting enhanced due diligence and risk-based investigations across private markets. She works closely with compliance professionals, legal teams, deal teams, and investigators to expand and strengthen client relationships while delivering high-quality, defensible insights that support informed decision-making.
Heather specializes in advising clients on enhanced due diligence involving individuals and entities in connection with private equity, private credit, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), IPOs, and commercial real estate finance. Her work supports transactions at every stage of the deal lifecycle, helping clients manage critical risk factors through investigator-led, thoroughly sourced diligence aligned with commercial and regulatory objectives.
Prior to joining Hilton Global Associates, Heather served as a Business Development Manager at Vcheck Global, where she focused on expanding enhanced due diligence services across public and private financial markets. She previously held the role of Enterprise Sales Executive at Sterling Diligence, supporting global clients with background investigations and verification services. Earlier in her career, she held business development and enterprise sales roles within SaaS, HR, and professional services environments.
Heather earned her bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. She is known for her client-centric approach, collaborative working style, and ability to translate complex investigative work into practical, decision-ready insights for sophisticated clients.
Global Security Advisor
PETER VINCENT
Peter Vincent is a recognized expert in global security, counter-terrorism, money laundering, international affairs, human rights violations, immigration, and more. In addition to providing independent consulting services to Hilton Global Associates, Peter is currently Vice President of International Policy at BORDERPOL, a global association of experts in border security and migration management. Previously, he was Head of Government Advisory at Henley & Partners, a specialist in citizenship and residency planning and, previously, General Counsel of Thomson Reuters Special Services. Peter served in President Barack Obama’s administration as the Principal Legal Advisor, Acting Director of the Office of International Affairs, and Senior Counselor for International Policy with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Previously, he represented the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. Prior to that, he served as counsel at Bechtel Corp., and as an attorney at both Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Garvey Schubert Barer.
Peter is a frequent analyst on television programs globally, including CBS News’ 60 Minutes, CNN, NBC News/MSNBC, and BBC World News. His editorials have appeared in newspapers such as the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, BuzzFeed, Business Insider, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Houston Chronicle, and the International New York Times.
Peter was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the State Bar of California.
Chief Technology Advisor
ALEX GALUSTYAN
With an illustrious track record spanning over two decades, Alex Galustyan brings to the forefront a wealth of deep expertise in regulatory compliance, technology risk management, and process optimization, positioning him as an esteemed luminary within financial circles. Alex is a seasoned and highly knowledgeable Information Technology professional with a proven track record of orchestrating intricate transformation and product development endeavors. An expert in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), he has recently completed projects related to regulatory compliance, program governance structures, KYC, BSA/AML, and more.
His client portfolio encompasses diverse firms, including asset managers, banks, broker/dealers, and business service providers, while his proficiency extends across functional groups spanning front-middle-back office, regulatory compliance, technology, and operations. In the dynamic realm of asset classes, Alex’s prowess encompasses equities, debt, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrencies.
Located in New York City, Alex’s career is marked with a series of significant achievements, including high-impact initiatives that optimized risk management practices and realized considerable cost savings. He championed groundbreaking financial products and collaborated extensively to heighten operational excellence across various platforms. Alex navigated intricate risk landscapes, conducted rigorous evaluations, and drove impactful business solutions. His earlier roles at Credit Suisse, Wedbush Securities, and The Bank of New York Mellon also spotlight his unparalleled ability to lead complex programs and foster organizational success. While at Ernst & Young LLC, Alex transformed and led numerous transformative projects for global financial institutions. His analytical prowess enabled streamlined operations and rapid responses, positioning him as a game-changer in the realm of financial technology solutions.
Technology & Systems Advisor
KEVIN JACKSON
Kevin Jackson, based in Southwest Florida, is the Owner and Lead IT Specialist of Actions Computer Repair, where he combines deep technical expertise with a client-first philosophy. Built on a foundation of integrity, precision, and both remote and hands-on problem-solving, Kevin has spent more than 15 years earning a trusted reputation for delivering dependable computer repair, IT consulting, network support, and proactive management and optimization of computer infrastructure for residential and business clients worldwide.
Since 2020, Kevin has also served as the IT Systems Advisor for Hilton Global, overseeing the technology aspects of new team member onboarding, device provisioning, strategic implementation of essential technology solutions, and company-wide system support.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Management from Hodges University, where he was honored as Student of the Year in the Information Technology Program in 2011. With extensive experience in hardware and software troubleshooting, performance optimization, and the integration of essential IT systems and solutions, he is dedicated to providing clear communication and practical, stress-free technology support tailored to each client’s needs.
A United States Marine Corps Veteran, Kevin proudly served three tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His military background instilled the discipline, commitment, and attention to detail that continue to define his professional approach today.
Kevin remains at the forefront of emerging technology trends and is passionate about helping others harness the full potential of their technology and processes. He is dedicated to empowering clients to enhance performance, strengthen online security and privacy, and leverage digital tools that streamline workflows and boost productivity.
Accounting Advisor
YOLANDA SHEBERT
Based in Naples, Florida, Yolanda Shebert is the Owner of EZ Ledger, Inc., where she has provided bookkeeping, accounting, and QuickBooks consulting services to a diverse range of clients for more than 16 years. As a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor, she brings deep expertise in general ledger management, financial reporting, and process optimization.
Since 2021, Yolanda has served as Hilton Global’s Accounting Advisor, supporting the company’s financial recordkeeping, reporting accuracy, and system integrations with a meticulous and collaborative approach. Her experience spans asset management and investment firms, law practices, the healthcare industry, non-profits, and franchise organizations, enabling her to tailor solutions to a wide range of operational needs.
CREDENTIALS & MEMBERSHIPS
EXPERIENCED STAFF
WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF EXPERTS
Hilton Global Associates’ team and worldwide network of experts consists of a diverse and wide-range of backgrounds, including government intelligence, finance, law, investigative journalism and research, and include certified international investigators, fraud examiners and private investigators. We have extensive resource coverage in over 195 countries and territories. Our agents are available globally to conduct in-depth, manual investigative efforts as required in both English and local languages, to ensure the most comprehensive of results.
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