Since 2008, Abler Nordic has invested in financial-service providers serving low-income households across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia and has raised nearly USD 500M in committed capital. Its portfolio companies have reached nearly 17 million customers, helping them grow businesses, increase incomes and improve their quality of life. Abler Nordic combines measurable social impact with rigorous commercial investment discipline.
Originally focused on microfinance, its activities now span a broader set of sectors within financial inclusion, such as MSME finance, affordable housing, asset leasing and financing, and agri-finance, with emerging opportunities in fintech and climate finance.
Abler Nordic operates as a public-private partnership. Catalytic public capital, including Norwegian government support for its Technical Assistance and Foreign Exchange Facilities, helps mitigate risk and mobilise private investment.
The Director of Africa leads Abler Nordic’s investment activity across Sub-Saharan Africa and shares responsibility for the firm’s strategy, growth and culture as one of six members of its Management Committee. Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, with a dotted line to the CEO, the Director combines hands-on investment leadership with a broader mandate to help shape and scale Abler Nordic’s African platform.
The role encompasses origination, structuring, execution and active portfolio management across equity, debt and mezzanine investments; leadership of the Nairobi office; and a proactive contribution to firm strategy, fundraising and external partnerships.
The successful candidate will bring the commercial judgement and entrepreneurial drive to build on an established regional portfolio while identifying where Abler Nordic should invest and grow next.
Investment leadership
Own and develop the Africa investment pipeline, identifying priority markets, sectors and themes and building proprietary origination through relationships with CEOs, boards, shareholders, regulators and ecosystem partners.
Lead transactions from screening and due diligence through structuring, Investment Committee approval, negotiation, legal completion and funding across equity, debt and mezzanine instruments.
Apply disciplined investment judgement, assessing business models, financial performance, management teams, valuation, credit quality, risk, impact and growth prospects; oversee robust modelling and investment documentation.
Evaluate structures supporting local-currency financing and effective management of currency risk.
Oversee portfolio performance, including investee governance, covenants, value-creation plans, refinancing and exits; represent Abler Nordic on investee boards where appropriate.
Support portfolio companies on strategic priorities including capital raising, institutional strengthening, digitalisation and sustainable growth.
Strategy and fundraising
Contribute to Management Committee decisions on firm strategy, capital allocation, investment themes and new products.
Identify opportunities to broaden Abler Nordic’s investment proposition where market demand, investor appetite and the firm’s capabilities intersect.
Proactively support fundraising by developing relationships with DFIs, institutional investors, foundations, family offices and other capital providers, and opening doors for the CEO and CIO.
Contribute to investor due diligence, track-record materials, portfolio analysis and responses to investor enquiries.
Develop co-investment and syndication partnerships to extend investment reach and deployment capacity; represent Abler Nordic at investor, industry, regulatory and DFI engagements.
Leadership and Management Committee
Lead the Nairobi office and its team of two investment professionals; manage the office budget.
Recruit, coach and develop investment professionals, creating a collaborative, accountable and high performing team in which colleagues are empowered to exercise sound judgement.
Share collective responsibility with the Management Committee for firm-wide governance, risk, policy and culture.
Operate autonomously from Nairobi while maintaining close alignment with headquarters in Oslo and sharing learning across regional teams.
Impact, ESG and technical assistance
This is not just a managerial position but hands-on regarding making investments.
Essential
At least 10 years (ideally 15+ years) of relevant professional experience, with a substantial track record in emerging-market investing and direct responsibility for originating, structuring, executing and managing investments in Africa.
Strong private equity transaction experience and investment judgement, ideally complemented by debt investing and structuring expertise.
Experience in financial inclusion, including microfinance, MSME finance, agri-finance, climate finance, fintechs or adjacent impact sectors.
Strong command of financial modelling, valuation, credit assessment, due diligence and corporate investment analysis.
Experience building investor relationships or supporting capital raising, with the appetite to play an increasingly proactive role in fundraising.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop investment professionals, preferably in an international or multi country environment.
Experience living and working in Africa, with a credible network across financial institutions, investees, investors, regulators and co-investors.
Ability to influence senior management teams and boards; excellent spoken and written English and the presence to engage Investment Committees and investors.
Desirable
Mezzanine investing, local-currency financing, experience with blended finance or DFI-supported transactions.
Board, board-observer or nominee-director experience.
Involvement in portfolio exits.
Experience beyond traditional financial inclusion, particularly climate or agri-sector, and an ability to evaluate unfamiliar sectors.
Experience supporting digital transformation in financial institutions and familiarity with ESG and impact measurement.
French language capability and investment exposure across multiple African regions.
Experience in investment banking or rigorous transaction advisory environments.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Research shows that individuals from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every listed qualification. At Millar Cameron, we are committed to supporting our clients in building diverse and inclusive teams. If you’re enthusiastic about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply - you could be exactly what our client is looking for, either for this position or another.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to candidates who are shortlisted for the next stage of the process. We sincerely appreciate your interest and the time taken to apply.
Since 2007 Millar Cameron has specialised in sourcing leadership and keyperson talent across a number of industries, including agribusiness, international development, industrial, consumer, financial and professional services, private equity, and technology, media and telecommunications. Our mission and purpose is to positively contribute to the development of Africa, and other emerging markets, through the provision of people.