Robert Jenkins 2017 Speaker

Investment Director

Gatsby Africa, East Africa

Biography

Robert was one of the pioneers of the private equity industry in the UK. He was a founding partner of Phildrew Ventures, which went on to raise 5 funds totalling >$1bn. The business was sold to UBS Capital in 2000. Robert then worked for Bridgepoint Capital, Europe’s leading private equity business, in a portfolio company management role for underperforming assets where he was director or chair of ten businesses. He is a business angel and is currently Chairman of a US based SaaS business and a director of two healthcare businesses.

Robert’s interest in Africa started over ten years ago. He has mentored two African based SME Funds, is a trustee of a Malawian microfinance business, Chairs a grant making trusts and has an MSc from SOAS in Development Economics. More recently he was appointed Investment Director of Gatsby Africa, an East African developmental institution with an annual budget of $20m and is CIO of Msingi, an institution to encourage transformative sector development in East Africa.

Robert has an in depth understanding of finance and funding markets, and of their imperfections, in Africa, which is holding back the development of Africa’s true potential.