CDC Group, the UK’s impact investor for Africa and South Asia, has further strengthened its management team with the appointment of Andrew Brown as Deputy Chief Investment Officer and a Managing Director.
Mr Brown has a wealth of experience in the emerging markets private equity arena and during his career has held senior positions at Société Générale Asset Management Alternative Investments, Amundi and ECP.
At CDC, he will be responsible for chairing the Investment Committees for Funds and Capital Partnerships and will work alongside Managing Director for Funds and Capital Partnerships, Stephen Priestley. He will also sit on the Direct Equity Investment Committee.
CDC’s Chief Executive, Nick O’Donohoe, said: “Andrew is one of the most experienced emerging markets private equity investors in the industry. His experience will further strengthen our industry-leading role of identifying and securing impact investment opportunities for CDC and our partners, while also supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”
Last year, CDC made 70 per cent of its investments in Africa, with the remainder in Asia. The company has over a portfolio of investments worth over $5.8 billion and is committed to investing £3.5 billion ($4.5 billion) in Africa between 2018 and 2021.
Andrew Brown said: “CDC has been making successful investments in Africa for over 70 years. It was investing for impact in emerging markets long before anyone thought to coin the term. I am delighted to be joining the company as it continues to make a return for reinvestment, while achieving a positive environmental, social and economic impact in the countries in which it invests.”
As well as making a wide range of direct equity and debt investments in Asian and African businesses, CDC also invests capital in private funds that deploy capital responsibly in these markets. CDC has played a pioneering role in supporting the private equity industry across Africa which channels growth capital to businesses.
Twenty years ago, CDC backed Nigeria’s first private equity fund, the Capital Alliance Private Equity Fund I from African Capital Alliance and has invested in all five of its subsequent funds. African Capital Alliance remains a market-leading investor in Nigeria. More recently, we have backed Sawari Ventures, an Egyptian venture capital fund driven by a passion for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
In 2018 CDC mobilised nearly $600 million of private sector capital.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Andrew Murray-Watson, CDC group, t. +44 207 042 1569 m. +44 7880461915 / amurray-watson@bii.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
- CDC Group plc is the UK’s development finance institution, wholly owned by the UK Government, CDC has invested in Africa and Asia for over 70 years. By investing for impact, CDC aims to help countries in Africa and Asia to build thriving communities that provide sustainable opportunities for all citizens.
- CDC takes a flexible approach and provides capital in all its forms, including equity, debt, mezzanine and guarantees, to meet businesses’ needs and achieve development impact. CDC has net assets of £5.8bn. Find out more at www.cdcgroup.com
