Investec Asset Management, a specialist investment manager, providing a range of products to institutional and individual investors, has hired Peter Baird as Managing Principal for the firm’s Africa Private Equity funds.

Baird will work with the firm’s well-established Africa Private Equity investment team to provide leadership as they continue to originate attractive investment opportunities, add value to, and eventually exit portfolio companies. 

Baird has over 20 years experience in private equity and investment banking.

He joins Investec from Standard Chartered Bank in Johannesburg, where he led the African private equity business and built approximately $900m portfolio comprising 11 portfolio companies. 

Prior to this, he held senior roles in industry and as a partner in the healthcare and private-equity practices at McKinsey & Company in South Africa and the US for 11 years.

“Over the last ten years, Investec Asset Management has built a very strong private-equity capability. I look forward to working with the team to take it to the next level. We believe now is a great time to be investing in Africa,” Baird said.

Investec Asset Management established an African private equity capability almost a decade ago, with the objective of supporting the creation of local and regional champions in their respective industries. 

The private equity team, which currently manages two funds, forms part of Investec Asset Management’s growing Africa Private Markets platform, which has evolved to cover unlisted credit and infrastructure, including the developmental Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.

Domenico Ferrini, co-CIO at Investec Asset Management, said: “While we are a global investment firm, our heritage and presence in Africa means that we are not only well placed to share our investment insights with clients, but committed to the long-term future of the continent.” 

“We are excited about Peter’s appointment because he shares our vision – to provide our clients with access to the investment opportunities we believe are available in private markets across Africa,” he added.