Tope Lawani
Managing Partner, Member of Executive and Investment Committee
We started this business with a vision to build a truly African firm. That meant – and still does – a firm that brings together the best of global investment and the best of Africa’s growth potential to create real impact on the continent. We feel very deeply that how we grow and how we create value must always focus on this natural role connecting capital to transformative talent and enterprise.
Sector expertise
Mr. Lawani joined the Company on closing of the Strategic Transaction. Mr. Lawani is a co-founder and Managing Partner of the Manager and has 25 years of principal investment experience. Prior to forming the Manager, he was a Principal in the San Francisco and London offices of TPG Capital, a leading global investment firm managing private equity, venture capital, credit and real estate investment funds.
At TPG Mr. Lawani had a lead role in the execution of several significant leveraged buyout and venture capital investments, including the acquisitions of Burger King Corp., Debenhams plc., J. Crew Group, and Scottish & Newcastle Retail. He began his career as a Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Development Analyst at the Walt Disney Company.
Mr. Lawani serves on the boards of directors of Helios Towers PLC, Pershing Square Holdings Ltd and NBA Africa. He also serves as a member of the MIT Corporation (Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s board of trustees), the MIT School of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, the Harvard Law School Dean’s Advisory Board and the board of directors of The END Fund, a leader in the global health movement to tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases.
He has previously served on the Overseers’ Visiting Committee of the Harvard Business School, the MIT OpenCourseWare Advisory Board and on the board of directors of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA) and Thunes.
Mr. Lawani received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (with a Minor in Economics) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Juris Doctorate (cum laude) from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is fluent in Yoruba, a widely spoken West African language. Mr. Lawani is a resident of London, United Kingdom.
