Shaun Collyer, new Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Jacana Partners Accra, April 24, GNA – Jacana Partners, the pan-African private equity firm that invests in small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to deliver social and financial returns, on Wednesday announced the appointment of Shaun Collyer as Chief Investment Officer (CIO).
The newly created position will considerably strengthen Jacana’s investment team as Collyer would be expected to deliver on Jacana’s investment strategy across East and West Africa, including Ghana.
Jacana has sixteen investments in those areas and had been ensuring quality control and discipline in execution of the investment process, strategic portfolio management and the development of successful exits.
A statement to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the appointment of Shaun, a South African national and the former Chief Executive Officer of Batian Fund in East Africa, comes ahead of the expected close of Jacana’s new 75 million US dollars pan-African SME fund later this year.
Formerly of Pegasus Capital and Three Cities in New York, Shaun has closed many buy-side private equity and add-on transactions, often in situations that required restructuring or complex structuring and hands-on operational support, and has provided value-add private equity investment to over 20 portfolio companies.
Based in the firm’s Nairobi office but with frequent travel across Jacana’s West and East Africa operations, including Ghana, Shaun will be expected to play an active role in delivering Jacana’s investment strategy across its three current funds.
The fund total 43 million US dollars as well as the new 75 million US dollars SME Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that Jacana is currently raising from international investors.
As CIO, Shaun will be a partner and investment committee member for this fund.
Simon Merchant, CEO of Jacana Partners said: ‘Shaun brings over 18 years of private equity and corporate finance experience in the US and Africa to Jacana.
‘The considerable operational experience he has acquired over the past two decades, together with his keen entrepreneurial spirit and track record of successful private equity investments, makes Shaun a valuable addition to the team and we are looking forward to the senior-level support and oversight he brings to the investment process.’
Speaking of the appointment, Shaun said: ‘I have been very impressed with Jacana’s broadly experienced team, their unique approach to investing in Africa’s SMEs and impressive track record to date.
‘The next few years’ will be an exciting time for Jacana, and I am looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to the team so that we can continue providing value-add private equity investment to entrepreneurs and making the most of the unprecedented investment opportunities offered by sub-Saharan Africa for our investors.’
GNA