Pedersen & Partners

📊 Essential skills for CFOs looking to thrive in Africa's high-stakes Fintech landscape 🌍 As the #Fintech landscape in #Africa evolves, CFOs must lead with a blend of 💰 #fundraising excellence, ⚙️ operational and technological expertise, and 💡 strategic vision. Managing complex #regulatory environments and understanding diverse cultures are crucial to driving growth. Dumitru Gushan, Client Partner at Pedersen & Partners, recently closed a global #CFO search and revealed the key traits needed to thrive in this dynamic sector.

🌍 Private Equity in #Africa is gaining traction as investors recognize the continent’s potential for high returns and growth. However, navigating this landscape requires a nuanced understanding of local markets, regulatory environments, and socio-economic factors. Our #Johannesburg panel discussion brought together industry leaders to explore these dynamics and share insights on achieving success in African Private Equity. 📈 Africa’s #PrivateEquity market has experienced significant growth, driven by an increasing number of deals, a rise in investment opportunities, and a focus on impact investing. Key markets include #SouthAfrica, #Nigeria, #Kenya, and #Egypt, with sectors such as technology, healthcare, and consumer goods attracting the most interest. Despite the opportunities, challenges remain, including regulatory complexities, political instability, and a scarcity of experienced talent. 💡The key takeaway points summarise the key insights from the recent panel discussion on private equity in Africa, held in Johannesburg. The discussion highlighted several critical areas, including #exits, #fundraising, #regulatory approvals, #ValueCreation, #ESG / #DEI, and #TalentDevelopment. As the African private equity landscape evolves, investors are increasingly focused on flexibility, strategic partnerships, and #ImpactInvesting. This summary outlines the opportunities and challenges that shape the future of private equity in Africa. The panel discussion was co-chaired by Kabelo Dlothi – Director, Co-Head of Corporate & Commercial, CMS South Africa and Michael Al-Nassir – Partner, Head of Private Equity Practice APMEA, Pedersen & Partners. Panelists: Florent de Boissieu – Partner, Adenia Stuart Bradley – Managing Partner, Phatisa Arshad Essa – Head, Nedbank Private Equity Maruping Mangwedi – Executive Director, Affirma Capital Nonhlanhla Mvuyana CA(SA) – Investment Manager, Sithega Hlompho Vuyo Ntoi – Co-Managing Director, African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) Edward Pitsi – Co-Founder and CEO, Infinite Partners Samantha Pokroy – Founder and CEO, Sanari Capital

🔄 Incorporating Sustainability: 3 Case Studies 🔄 Alicia Fernandez del viso, Global ESG Director at Cellnex Telecom, shares key insights on the necessity of embedding sustainability into business models. 🚀 "To truly make an impact, #sustainability cannot be siloed within one team; it must be integrated across the entire company."   📊 3 Examples of Leading Companies: · Schneider Electric: This French group provides software and services for #EnergyManagement, helping their customers reduce emissions and enhance energy efficiency. They also work closely with their supply chain to reduce their emissions. · Illumina: A U.S. biotechnology company, Illumina leads in genomics and human health. They have reduced packaging waste by 90%, embodying the #CircularEconomy concept. · Moncler: An Italian luxury retail company that uses 80% recycled materials in their products and 100% renewable energy. Despite initial challenges, they successfully integrated sustainability into their production and supply chain.   Alicia emphasizes the critical need for #ESG talent: "Companies require multidisciplinary sustainability skills, from climate change experts to those knowledgeable about regional regulations and frameworks." 🌱 Developing and appreciating #ESGTalent is essential for long-term success. 📖 Missed the full article? Check it out for more insights from Alicia’s speech!   #BusinessStrategy #PedersenAndPartners #Leadership

🌍 In Conversation with Alicia Fernandez del viso: ESG Talent - A Company Must-Have 🌍 We're excited to share insights from our recent conversation with Alicia Fernández del Viso, Global ESG Director at Cellnex Telecom. Alicia brings over 20 years of experience, having served as Sustainability Manager at Indra and a technical expert for the European Commission. Her passion for sustainability is truly inspiring! 🌱 🔍 Key Insights: 1.   Why Sustainability? Sustainability is a risk management strategy in a fast-changing world. As Alicia highlighted, the World Economic Forum's Global Risk Report 2024 lists environmental risks like extreme weather and biodiversity loss among the top threats. Companies must adapt to survive. 2.   Regulatory Tsunami The ESG #regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly, especially in Europe. Companies need comprehensive sustainability strategies to comply with stringent regulations like the EU Green Deal and the Modern Slavery Act. 3.   Stakeholder Expectations Investors, consumers, and new talent increasingly demand sustainable practices. Sustainable companies are seen as more profitable and appealing to conscious consumers and employees. 4.   Climate Change and Business Models Addressing #ClimateChange is crucial. Companies must reduce emissions and embrace circular economy principles. Examples like Tesla and IKEA show how sustainable practices can be integrated into attractive business models. 5.   Developing ESG Talent ESG expertise is essential across all corporate units. Companies must invest in training and development to build a resilient and knowledgeable workforce capable of tackling global challenges. Alicia shared her key achievements and future focus areas. Last year, she successfully integrated the sustainability plan into her company's strategic plan, aligning #sustainability with business objectives. This year, her focus is on localizing the global sustainability plan across 12 European countries. 👥 Is your company prepared to navigate the complexities of #ESG? Let's build a sustainable future together. Connect with us to learn how Pedersen & Partners can support your #ESGTalent needs. #RiskManagement #CircularEconomy #PedersenAndPartners

🌍 The Global Impact of Climate Change: A Call for Unified Action 🌍   Alicia Fernandez del viso, Global ESG Director at Cellnex Telecom, highlights the critical importance of the Paris Agreement in addressing climate change. Since its signing in 2015, the commitment to control rising temperatures and emissions has become a global priority. Last year, China and the United States ratified the agreement, meaning countries representing 98% of global greenhouse emissions are on board.   The harsh reality, as emphasized by the World Economic Forum, is that the lowest-income countries suffer the most from climate change, despite contributing the least. These nations emit only one-tenth of global emissions but endure eight times more natural disasters than wealthier countries.   🌐 Climate change is a global crisis. What happens in one country impacts others, necessitating a united effort to combat this issue.   Stay tuned for the full article with Alicia’s insights on why sustainability is not just a label but a real strategy for companies. 📩 Read more soon!   #Sustainability #ClimateChange #ParisAgreement #GlobalCrisis #ESG #PedersenAndPartners  

🚀 Insights from the Banking-as-a-Service Industry 🚀 Evita Lune, our Partner and Global Head of the #FinTech Practice, recently completed a high-profile search for a leading pan-European #BaaS company, revealing key trends and challenges in the industry. Focus areas like clearing and settlement are more successful, while embedded lending emerges as a major revenue opportunity. Full API connectivity and banking licenses are top client priorities. Strong compliance and AML teams are crucial, as seen with Solaris SE challenges. Check out the full post for more in-depth #IndustryInsights. #FinancialServices #BusinessStrategy #PedersenAndPartners

“I am delighted to welcome Amrita to our team. With over a decade of experience in #talent management and a strong track record across multiple sectors, Amrita is a valuable addition to our #Kenya office. Her capable leadership, strategic vision, and dedication to excellence will help us strengthen our presence in Sub-Saharan #Africa and bring value to our clients and candidates in the region. We look forward to her contributions and success in this new role,” said Modise Makhene, Client Partner and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

“I would like to congratulate everyone at Pedersen & Partners for a very strong first half of 2024. Additionally, at Pedersen & Partners, on a quarterly basis, the entire firm votes for team members who are recognised for their exceptional contributions to the firm and our clients, as well as for exemplifying our core #values of Trust, Relationship, and Professionalism. On behalf of the entire firm, I’d like to extend our congratulations to the recipients of the Q2 2024 Pedersen & Partners Values Bonus #Awards: Lydia van der Meulen, Valeri Artemov and Maria Grubîi.   Their commitment to our core values, contributions to the firm and our clients, and walking the talk with our #BestTeamForward approach have earned them the appreciation and #recognition of their colleagues and clients.” Gary Williams, CEO.

🔹Navigating the Job Market in Bulgaria: Insights from Irena Bushandrova🔹 We are excited to share key insights from Irena Bushandrova, our Country Manager for #Bulgaria, as featured in Trud News. In her compelling interview, Irena offers a deep dive into the current labor market in Bulgaria, highlighting the importance of perseverance, patience, expectation management, and proactive job hunting. 💡 Key Takeaways: 📚🛠️The need for a strong dual-education system and the revival of vocational schools in Bulgaria as a solution to the labor shortage. 🌍🔄The challenges and opportunities of attracting young Bulgarians back to the country, emphasizing the significance of local opportunities for career growth. 💼🔍The essential strategies for successful job hunting, including the importance of gaining experience, building professional networks, and being proactive and persistent. Discover Irena's expert advice on how to navigate compensation discussions, the fine line between requests and demands, and the best practices for making a lasting impression in job interviews. Explore more of Irena’s insights and strategies in the full interview via the link in the comments section. #ExecutiveSearch #CareerGrowth #PedersenAndPartners

🔍 Key Insights from Our 2024 Building Solutions Industry Report 🔍 Our latest survey, spanning responses from all over the world, reveals promising #trends for 2024-2025: 📈 Business Growth Expectations: A majority foresee growth, signaling optimism across the industry. 💼 Team Expansion Plans: Majority plan to boost teams in Operations, R&D, Business Development, and Sales, aiming to enhance capabilities and market reach. 💰 Investment Plans: Significant investments are planned for operational and environmental improvements, new plants, and production facilities. Expansion is also planned in Sales and Marketing. 🌱 Sustainability Perspectives: #Sustainability is seen as an opportunity, reflecting the industry's recognition of its potential to drive growth. 📊 Most impactful Trends for 2024: #ESG factors and economic conditions, such as high interest rates and #inflation, are anticipated to significantly influence business strategies. 🚀 Download the full report and share with us in the comments, what trends you think will drive your business growth in 2024 and beyond. 🌟 #IndustryReport #BuildingSolutions #PedersenAndPartners