5 Powerful women in Africa

Kwame Nkrumah · 2011-10-31T03:29:13+00:00

Lists | 10/25/2011 @ 3:04PM |1,405 views Five Powerful Women In African Private Equity 0 comments, 0 called-out + Comment now + Comment now 16 12 60 0 1 Wendy Luhabe, Founder, Women Private Equity Fund Move up Move down 18 images Photos: The 20 Youngest Power African Women Photos: The World's Richest Women Private equity is not a mans world after all at least not in Africa. While the leveraged buyout industry has traditionally been one of the least women-friendly segments in the domain of high finance, these 5 women have not only thrived in this male-dominated terrain, they also are at the top echelon of deal making at some of Africas most storied private equity firms. Among them, these five ladies collectively manage close to $1 billion of investor capital. Africa is experiencing an unprecedented influx of private equity. According to statistics available from the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association, PE investments into the continent hit $1.5 billion last year, up from $151 million in 2002. A huge chunk of those funds are managed by some of the largest private equity shops on the continent-the likes of Helios Capital Partners, Citadel Capital and African Capital Alliance which are led and dominated by men. For the most part, private equity is a mens game, but these women are thriving nonetheless. These are 5 of the continents most venerable female dealmakers, the most powerful women in African private equity. Tsega Gebreyes, Ethiopian. Managing Partner, Satya Capital The Ethiopian-born investment banker is a founding partner and CEO of Satya Capital, a London-based, African-focused private equity firm with over $200 million under management. Satya Capital was founded by Sudanese-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim and typically commits over $20 million or more into companies focused on healthcare, financial services, energy and natural resources. A Harvard grad, Gebreyes started off her career with Citibank and McKinsey before joining Celtel in 1999 where she worked closely with the companys founder as Chief of Strategy and Business Development. At Celtel, she helped raise capital for key acquisitions and drew the blueprint for the companys regional expansion. Most importantly, she played a key role in leading the M&A process that ultimately led to the $3.4 billion acquisition of Celtel by MTC Kuwait (this transaction made Mo Ibrahim a billionaire). Under her leadership Satya Capital has invested over $80 million in companies like Guaranty Trust Bank, a Nigerian commercial bank and Chemi & Cortex, a Tanzanian consumer goods firm. Genevieve Sangudi, Tanzanian. Managing Director, Carlyle Group Africa Earlier this year, Carlyle Group, an American alternative asset manager, announced the creation of a $500 million fund for African-focused investments. Genevieve Sangudi, a Tanzanian national, was appointed as a Managing Director of the fund. Private equity is not new territory to her. Prior to this appointment, she had served as a Partner and Founding Managing Director of the Nigerian operations of Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), an African-focused Investment firm with over $1.8 billion in management. She led the firm to make key investments in Nigerian blue-chips like Nigerian fertilizer giant Notore Chemical Industries and Wananchi Group. Sangudi has an M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a B.A. in English and communication studies from Macalester College. Wendy Luhabe, South African. Managing Director, Women Private Equity Fund One of South Africas most respected boardroom figures, Luhabe has in the past served on the boards of the Vodacom Group and BMW South Africa. In 2002 she founded the $13 million Women Private Equity Fund (WPEF), which invests primarily in women-owned or led businesses. Some of the funds successful investments to date include Qphoto , a photographic retail chain, and I-SLICES, a company that manufactures eye care products. Luhabe is currently the Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg. Page 1 2 « Previous PageNext Page » 0 comments, 0 called-out + Comment now + Comment now Five Powerful Women In African Private Equity - Forbes

Thread starter Kwame Nkrumah
Start date Oct 31, 2011

Kwame Nkrumah

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Oct 31, 2011

MaxShimba

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