InfraCredit as backed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Private Infrastructure Development Group companies GuarantCo and InfraCo Africa, KfW Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation and African Development Bank, has announced the appointment of Gilles J. Vaes, CEO InfraCo Africa and Claire Jarratt, Chief Investment Officer, InfraCo Africa to its Board of Directors as Non-Executive Directors representing InfraCo Africa’s equity investment in InfraCredit.
Mr. Gilles J. Vaes is an energy specialist, with a rare blend of business and investment strategy skill sets. Gilles has over two decades hands-on experience in the energy sector, working with some of the largest energy providers in Africa, Asia and Europe.
As the Chief Executive Officer of InfraCo Africa Limited, Gilles has overall responsibility for fulfilling InfraCo Africa’s vision of alleviating poverty by mobilizing private sector expertise and finance to develop high-quality infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
Previously, Gilles was at different times senior strategy and risk analyst, project manager, project engineer, and head of business development in leading global manufacturing and energy companies, including Engie, Electrabel, Calidda and Etex Group. Mr. Vaes, a keen advocate of environmental sustainability, is passionate about socio-economic development models that improve living standards and committed to innovations in infrastructure financing and development.
Mr. Gilles is an alumnus of prestigious George Washington University and Catholic University of Louvain, where he had his post-graduate degrees – MBA (Finance) and MSc. (Civil Engineering) respectively. Gilles is a multilingual— speaks English, French, Spanish and Dutch fluently; semi-fluent in Romanian and learning Arabic. He is an avid sailor and surfer, and loves hiking, running, and reading.
“Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the parent company of InfraCo Africa, and the NSIA have a long-standing relationship stemming from when both institutions co-sponsored the development of InfraCredit and partnered on other projects of mutual interest.
“The relationship continues to deepen as Gilles and Clair join the Board of InfraCredit as shareholder representatives of InfraCo; bringing with them invaluable and complementary experiences which will further strengthen the capacity of our deep bench of Board members.
“I am excited to welcome both of them and look forward to the additional benefits that will accrue to InfraCredit on account of their wealth of experience and stellar business acumen,” said Mr. Uche Orji, Chairman, Board of Directors, InfraCredit.
The Chief Executive of InfraCredit, Mr. Chinua Azubike, said, “Messrs. Gilles and Claire are great additions to our Board, as they bring invaluable global and regional experience in infrastructure finance, thus enhancing our Board’s oversight and enriching our governance. My colleagues and I, who run the day-to-day business of InfraCredit, excitingly look forward to working closely with both Executives of InfraCo Africa, particularly through the different Board Committees, as we continue to leverage best-in-class governance in growing our business and building sustainable value for all stakeholders.”
“Providing capital to InfraCredit is only a part of our strategic objectives of working with this unique institution in Nigeria. Claire and I are therefore glad to be joining the Board of Directors, as it should afford us the opportunity to further support the Executive Management in delivering on the vision of unlocking private long-term capital for the much-needed infrastructure development in Africa’s most populous and biggest economy. InfraCredit has a strong governance capacity, given the diverse experience of its Directors and we hope to efficiently complement these globally reputed professionals.,” said Mr. Gilles J. Vaes.