Kudzayi Hove has over 20 years’ experience in investment banking, private equity, and infrastructure investment in Africa. She previously headed up equity investments at Africa Finance Corporation (“AFC”), a development financial institution with a capital base of US$1.7 billion. At AFC, she oversaw the execution and management of investments in a variety of infrastructure related sectors including power, transportation, heavy industries, oil & gas, mining, and telecoms. During this time, she grew AFC’s portfolio by 270% and expanded the organization’s ex-Nigeria investments to account for 50% of its total portfolio. Kudzayi also designed and put in place systems, procedures & documentation to streamline and standardize the equity investment and portfolio management process.

Prior to joining AFC, she was a director at Emerging Capital Partners (“ECP”), an international private equity firm focused on investing across the African continent. ECP has more than $1.8 billion in commitments and a ten-year track record of investing in Africa through seven funds. At ECP, she led the execution of several transactions across Africa in financial services, telecoms, logistics and power. At present, Kudzayi is the CEO of Amayi Foods Limited, a Nigerian based FMCG company that she cofounded. Amayi Foods produces high quality, affordable and convenient packaged African food products using locally sourced fresh inputs. As CEO and co-founder, she drove the set-up of the company’s production facilities, manages its day-to-day operations, and has led the growth of its distribution network to over 1,500 outlets today which include the largest modern trade retailers, traditional open markets, and informal retailers in Nigeria as well as Amazon in the United States.

Kudzayi has sat on several boards on behalf of ECP and AFC and is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Cabeolica S.A. Cabeolica is a 25MW wind farm in Cape Verde that commenced operations in 2012. It is the first commercial scale PPP for wind power in sub-Saharan Africa and currently provides about 20% of Cape Verde’s electricity. A Zimbabwean national, she has transacted extensively in many countries in West, East and Southern Africa. She holds a BA from Clark University, USA and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA. She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria.