Leadership

Wouter is an internet pioneer with 20+ years of industry experience. Wouter cofounded in 1997 the first carrier neutral data centre in Amsterdam - SpeedPort, modelled after AboveNet and the Palo Alto Internet Exchange in California.

In 1999, he was part of the founding team of Interxion, which became Europe’s leading data centre operator 20 years later. He initiated the Swiss Internet Exchange Swiss-IX in 2001, and the French France-IX in 2009. In July 2016, whilst at Interxion, he founded PAIX to focus 100% on the data centre opportunity on the African continent. He initiated and co-founded the Africa Data Centres Association in 2018, and is currently a board member.

Wouter grew up in Mali and Burkina Faso and graduated from Imperial College London with a Masters in Software Engineering, and received his MBA from INSEAD.

Robert is a Legal and Investment Professional with 15+ years of experience in corporate and solar energy investments in Europe and Southern Africa.

Robert worked in M&A advisory with Lincoln International, Kempen & Co and Morgan Stanley in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London. Robert obtained his legal qualification as an M&A lawyer with De Brauw Blackstone in Amsterdam and London.

Robert graduated from Leiden University, University of Amsterdam, Sciences Po Paris and London Business School.

Edwin is an Industry engineer with 30+ years of experience in designing, building and operating telecom networks and data centres with UUNet, Verizon and MTN. Graduate of Tshwane Institute of Technology.

Lynette is an experienced HR professional highly skilled at recruitment, on boarding, employee relations, strategic HR planning and general HR operations with previous work experience across various industries including telecommunications, ICT and advertising.

She is a member of the Institute of Human Resource Management in Kenya and holds a Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Masters in Management and Organization Development from the United States International University-Africa.

Bright is a seasoned technology solutions sales and business development expert with over 17 years’ experience in solutions sales, and customer management, retention, driving innovation, supporting P&L management, sales coaching, policy management and adding value to individuals and businesses both locally and abroad.

He has a Higher National Diploma in Marketing from Sunyani Technical University, BSc Marketing from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, MBA focus in Marketing from University of Ghana Business School, Master of Arts in Economic Management Policy from University of Ghana Economics Department and LLB from Central University of Ghana.

Outside work, Bright is a soccer enthusiast, human rights advocate and a magnetic movie lover. 

Muhoro is a seasoned techprenuer with over 12 years of experience in driving business in telcos and ICT companies. He has held several senior leadership positions and has guided teams to winning everyday both at Frontier optical networks and Mac mobile international limited. Muhoro's experience spans in the following solutions sales, customer management, retention, driving innovation, supporting P&L management, sales coaching and adding value to individuals and businesses.

He holds a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree in strategic management and marketing from Maseno University.

Outside of work, Muhoro loves swimming, is passionate in building businesses and loves to network.

Magloire is a senior executive with extensive business unit management experience in emerging markets. Specialized in the set-up, organisation, & development of commercial ecosystems in African settings. Previous roles with Winch Energy and Transsion Holding.

Lucy has over a decade of experience in investments and operations globally. Prior to joining Africa50 as an Investment Director, Lucy worked as an engineer at Exxon Mobil, and has since been working in finance and investments in the infrastructure space at Goldman Sachs and Macquarie Asset Management in London.

Lucy holds an MBA from London Business School and a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from the University of Queensland.

Maarten Terlouw is an experienced banking executive with balanced focus on business development, operational control and regulatory compliance. Maarten has an investment banking background with deep and broad experience in global industries and markets. He has experience of working internationally in Amsterdam, London and New York. Currently Maarten is CEO Americas for ABN AMRO bank, based out of New York.

He is a member of the Directors Council at Columbia University’s Centre on Global Energy Policy, and is a senior advisor to the board of Argentem Creek Partners, a New York based hedge fund, focused on special situations and emerging markets.

Raza Hasnani has over twenty-three years of infrastructure, private equity, and impact investing experience in Africa, Asia and the Americas. He leads the infrastructure investments business at Africa 50 (a $850 million investment platform) and is focused on making private equity and growth investments into greenfield and brownfield projects as well as platforms. He has also led project and corporate financings for energy and infrastructure projects around the world while at Exxon Mobil Corporation in Dallas and Houston. He started his career at Deloitte in Philadelphia.

Mr. Hasnani has invested in renewable and conventional power projects, electric and gas utilities, pipelines, ports, terminals, upstream, refineries, transportation, and other energy and infrastructure assets around the world.

He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Franklin and Marshall College.

Tony Abakisi is an investment professional previously with Actis Private Equity leading Actis’ Diamond Bank investment, currently also serves as Non Executive Director of Sigma Pensions (Nigeria) and a Board Observer at Severn Energy.

He is an alumnus of Harvard (MBA) and Colby College, USA.