The Company
MISSION
Our mission is to structure, facilitate and enable entities in the creative sector to access capital, resources and international marketing avenues with profitability & integrity.
VISION
To identify top talent in African creative and innovative industries and improve the success rates of the entrepreneurs.
To provide extra support for women entrepreneurs.
To directly contribute to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
To create high-quality jobs for Africa’s youth by supporting businesses in the creative ecosystem.
To improve global positioning and integration of African creative industries through participation in major global events.
To highlight and export Africa’s rich and diverse culture and artistry which continues to be underrepresented on the world markets.
To provide investors with risk-adjusted commercial returns
BOARD & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Roberta Annan
Visionary & Investor
Roberta Annan is a globally-renowned investment expert, businesswoman and philanthropist. She is a United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador for the Creative Economy. Her goal is to bridge the gap between investors and impact investment opportunities in Africa.
She is the Founder of The African Fashion Foundation, a non-profit that invests into early stage SMEs in the creative sector in Africa. She currently seats on the board of many institutions including: The Frallain Group, Industrie Africa and Women’s Empowerment and Investment Group amongst others. She is also on the advisory board of the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design. Roberta is currently on the board of Cape Coast Technical University in Ghana as a Government Appointee.
An award-winning businesswoman, she has received several leadership awards such as ‘20 under 40 Influential Business Leaders in Ghana’, ‘Feminine Ghana Achievement Award’, ‘Woman 2.1 Summit Award’, ‘40 under 40 Influential Business Leaders in Consulting’ and ‘100 Young Influential Africans’. She is the youngest African to be inducted into the African Leadership Hall of Fame . She was a member of both the Young Leaders Circle for Milken Institute and Young Presidents Organization (YPO).
Annan holds a Masters degree in Biotechnology from Georgetown University and attended the Leadership Development Program at Harvard Business School.
Lethabo Sithole
Legal Eagle & International Trader
Lethabo Sithole is a legal practitioner and researcher in international business, trade and investment law with a combination of private, public and policy experience. She holds a Master of Laws in International Business Law from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). She is currently pursuing her second LL.M. in International Trade and Investment Law, as well as a Diploma of Advanced Studies. Inspired by her dedication to building circular, resilient and sustainable societies on the continent, she founded and partnered in ventures to develop and support new and emerging markets and industries.
Derrick de Necker
Strategy & Corp. Finance & Big Wave surfer
Derrick has served as CEO of various companies and brings with him, over 25 years’ worth of valuable expertise in global investments, structuring, strategy, and commercialization. He was the Joint-Managing Partner at NinetyEast Capital Partners, a Mauritius-based Private Equity & Corporate Finance group and the Joint-Managing Partner at one of the largest listed Private Equity Investment Vehicles on the Mauritius Stock Exchange.He also served as the COO of Fleming Financial Trust Ltd and on the board and Investment Vehicles of the Fleming Group which was also listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Fiona Coyne
Head of Environment, Social & Governance (ESG)
Originally from Scotland, now based in Germany, Fiona Coyne (1969) is an independent Textiles Sourcing Consultant with a passion for sustainability. She has 15 years’ executive level experience in Sourcing and CSR, as well as in-depth knowledge of textiles processing and unique experience in cradle to grave cotton production, from the tiny farms of West Africa to the mega-mills of Asia. She excels strategically and financially, has a knack for identifying opportunities for improvement and pursuing them to fruition, is process-driven yet pragmatic, with excellent supplier management, negotiation, organisation and communication skills. A cultural chameleon, she speaks 5 languages, including fluent Mandarin, and has lived and worked in as many countries across the globe
Ernesto Applefield Alvarez
Senior Advisor for Sports Investment
Ernesto Applefield Alvarez is a Franco American Cuban (and German), Paris born former professional football player who has played both in Europe and the US.
He is the CEO of Lightning Sports, a sports agency that deals with talent identification worldwide as well as advising/brokering deals for multinational sports organisations looking to make investments through Sports and Education, with a focus on Africa.
He is also the CEO of Kiwai Media, a US media company that focuses on media placements, communication strategy, public relations, for multinationals, governments and high profile individuals.
In addition, he is Special Projects Representative at the Financial Times.
His multicultural background and diversity of activities have helped him gain access to key players of different industries and create channels for unexpected partnerships.
Mildred Ayishetu Nelson
Bilingual Administrative Assistant
Mildred is a bilingual professional with more than two years of working experience in our client-facing division. She’s an astute customer relations personnel fluent in both English and French.
At the African Fashion Foundation, she is a cherished member of our administrative team that liaises with key stakeholders, including fashion and creative directors, to ensure success on launches and in programmes.
She holds an honours degree in Communications Studies. Outside the office, you will find her trying food recipes and binging Netflix dramas.
Jesse Rannells
Partner at IFFAC
Jesse Rannells is a distinguished professional with a profound impact on the dynamic realms of technology, entrepreneurship, and the creative sectors. Her career trajectory reflects a fervent commitment to nurturing innovation, empowering startups, and championing the creative economy. With a remarkable portfolio that includes initiatives such as the UNICEF Startup Lab, the Pan-African Fintech Accelerator, Tech by Her, and the Smart Cities Innovation Programme, Jesse has consistently been at the forefront of fostering innovation and supporting early-stage startups. However, her most recent role as Partner at IFFAC or Head of IFFAC Ventures marks a strategic shift towards the creative spaces, where she focuses on fund management and business support programming.
FUND & MCC ADVISORS
Mayowa Ayodele
VC guru & Industry maven
Mayowa Ayodele is a finance and investment expert with significant experience, having specific focus on financial advisory, private equity and venture capital. His experience covers various sectors including manufacturing, retail, logistics, fintech and agribusiness.
He has worked with other leading institutions like the International Finance Corporation and Deloitte, and was a Director at Standard Chartered Private Equity Africa (now Affirma Capital) with responsibility for a $200M portfolio.
He is on the board of an Agritech company; an Advisory and structured finance business in Nigeria and is co-founder of Arkana Partners. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and alumni of the IESE Global Executive MBA.
Charles Zouzoua
Trusted advisor & Captain of industry
Charles Zouzoua is a Non-executive Director and captain of industries. He is your trusted advisor for international business transactions and investment opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. He understands well the intricacies and complexity of the various African markets, and has the knowledge to overcome the hurdles facing existing and potential investors by providing practical solutions.
His unique position in the sub-Saharan African Markets combines a multi-cultural view of business; an understanding of both emerging markets and the western world; and a proven ability of resolving complicated business matters. This captain of industries can help ignite any existing business or guide any investor who seeks to launch a successful venture on the African continent; as well as bring tremendous value to any company as a board member.
Michael Darko
African Change-Maker & Investment Banking
Michael Darko is a senior advisor at Phoenix Capital Management, S.A., He has over 12 years of experience in finance, investment advisory, and corporate strategy. As a former Executive Director, Head of Financial Advisory, he has been a change-maker in Africa by liaising extensively with investment holding companies, strategic investors, and other investors seeking investment opportunities in Africa. He originated deals by developing client relationships with a focus on providing critical advice and support in the execution of their corporate strategy and financing objectives.
Michael holds a Masters in Business Administration, with an emphasis in finance and corporate strategy, from the University of Michigan. He is a member of Greenhill Roundtable Discussions for Effective Economic Management and Governance (GRREMG), Ghana.
In 2010 he joined J. P Morgan as an investment banking associate, he advised Gamesa Corporation on a $750 million cross-border transaction involving equity placement, tax equity capital, and a long-term hedge contract.
THE GLOBAL CREATIVE INDUSTRY
- 3% of GDP: the sector represents a significant part of the world’s GDP (UNCTAD)
- 30 million jobs: it is a great source of formal employment worldwide (UNDP)
- 10% of GDP: forecasts estimate that this sector will triple in the next five years
- Highly resilient to crises: The 2008 crisis caused a contraction of 12% in international trade, but world exports of creative goods/services grew at an average rate of 14% over 6 consecutive years.
THE AFRICAN CREATIVE INDUSTRY
- Makes up 1.1% of GDP in Africa which could grow by a factor of 3-9 over the next 5 years. (collective GDP in Africa as at 2020 $2.6 trillion) – Mo Ibrahim 2019 forum report
- 2 million jobs are currently provided in Africa by CCIs, with the potential to grow to 6-18 million
- Youth employer. CCIs create the highest number of formal, well-paid jobs for people aged 15-29 with a fair gender balance
- Home of Women Entrepreneurs. This sector has the highest rate of women entrepreneur
- 128 million: Number of households in Africa with discretionary income (as of 2020) – McKinsey
- $1.4 trillion: Consumer spending in Africa (as of 2020)
- Increase in discretionary income has led to an increase in consumerism.
- Emergence of growing middle class – Gig economy
GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS
