Chairman Thomas Gibian talks about how he helped Emerging Capital Partners become the first private equity firm to raise more than $1.8 billion to invest in companies across the African continent through seven funds. He sets the stage by discussing how the private sector was the engine of growth in China and India, and shares how some of the lessons have been applied to Africa. He talks about where the growing markets are in the African continent, and the promising future for entrepreneurs there. Gibian spoke at the 2011 Stanford Africa Forum on entrepreneurship and development.
Thomas Gibian is the chairman of Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), a leading private equity manager focused exclusively on Africa. He assists in the formation and implementation of ECP's investment strategy and manages key relationships with shareholders and portfolio companies. Gibian served as COO for the AIG African Infrastructure Fund, managing the daily operations of the fund and overseeing the structuring and valuation of investments. From 1995 to 2000, he was managing director in EMP Global's Asia Funds, which managed more than $2.8 billion in capital for investments. Prior to that, he spent three years as executive director and co-head of the structured and project finance group at Goldman Sachs Asia. Gibian received a bachelor’s degree with honors from the College of Wooster in Ohio, and an MBA in finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.
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Photo: Stanford Africa Forum