15th Annual AVCA Conference

600+ private equity leaders will convene in Marrakech this April to discuss the key trends shaping the investment landscape in Africa

Largest African private equity and venture capital gathering globally returns to North Africa for the first time in nearly 10 years bringing together thought leaders, investors, and advisors managing over US$1.3 trillion in assets.

On the back of successful industry gatherings in Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Cape Town, and Lagos, the Pan-African industry association continues to showcase the fastest growing economies in the world by convening the industry in Morocco. Global and African dignitaries, investors, and business-leaders will discuss the latest developments affecting diverse industries and geographies within the private equity ecosystem.

Hosted by AVCA, the agenda incorporates experienced industry perspectives from the likes of CDC Group, Coronation Capital, DLA Piper, and Verod Capital.

The landmark occasion will involve keynote addresses, panel discussions, investor and portfolio company spotlights, and roundtables from the following:

Lamia Boutaleb, Secretary of State to the Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Crafts and the Social Economy, Kingdom of Morocco
Hicham Zanati Serghini, Chief Executive Offcer, la Caisse Centrale de Garantie
Brahim Benjelloun-Touimi, Group Executive Managing Director, Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur
Dr. Boutheina Ben Yaghlane, Chief Executive Officer, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (Tunisie)
ZouhaÏr Bennani, Chief Executive Officer, Labelvie
Adil Douiri, Chief Executive Officer, Mutandis
Eric Lefort, Chief Executive Officer, Premium
Mamadou Biteye, Managing Director, The Rockefeller Foundation
Stéphane Bacquaert, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Wendel Africa
Isabelle Bébéar, Head of International Affairs and Management Programs, Bpifrance Investissement
Antony Barker, Director of Pensions and Chief Investment Officer, Santander UK
Nicolas Gauthey, Senior Strategist, Impact and Alternative Investments, AXA Investment Managers
Christophe Karvelis, Chief Executive Officer, Capzanine
Jeffrey Leonard, Chief Executive Officer, Global Environment Capital Company
Vikram Raju, Executive Director and Portfolio Manager, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners
Wellington Masekesa, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, Public Investment Corporation
Simon Nyakundi, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Railway Staff Retirement Scheme
Richard Rincón, Senior Investment Officer, Emerging Market, University of Texas Investment Management Company
Murray Grant, Managing Director, Intermediated Equity, CDC Group
Maria Kozloski, Global Head and Chief Investment Officer, Private Equity Funds, International Finance Corporation
Kevin Njiraini, Regional Lead, Private Equity Funds, Sub-Saharan Africa, International Finance Corporation
Robert Zegers, Chief Investment Officer, The African Development Bank

Locating the summit in Morocco reflects the tremendous growth that has taken place in North Africa over the past few years and highlights the country’s favourable business environment and powerful economy. Morocco accounts for the region’s largest share of private equity investments and following re-entry into the African Union (AU) Marrakech serves as the ideal location to celebrate the 15th anniversary of AVCA’s Conference.

The conference will focus on investment prospects within Africa, the continent’s infrastructure needs, how development finance institutions are supporting SMEs, startups as well as VC firms investing in them, new narratives driving the continent’s transformation, the rise of family offices looking to Africa, how African private equity funds are delivering alpha, sustainability and impact investing, and value creation via exits – all unique perspectives from a diverse range of investors shaping the industry and landscape.