CDC Group, the UK’s impact investor and development finance institution, has appointed Alexandra Maddy as its new Head of Business Integrity.

In this role Maddy will be responsible for enhancing investees’ business integrity systems and helping them manage corporate governance.

Maddy comes to CDC with over 15 years’ experience in risk consulting.

She brings to the firm, her experience as Director, Risk Consulting and Head of Corporate Intelligence at KPMG in the UK, during which she was responsible for providing strategic intelligence on pre-deal due diligence, market entry assessments and reviews of risk management frameworks for a wide range of clients.

Prior to that, Maddy held senior roles at Control Risks, where she led the firm’s sub-Saharan Africa practice for corporate investigations.

Maddy will lead a growing team of over 17 business integrity professionals to manage CDC’s Business Integrity (BI) risk assessment process.

Her team collaborate with the Investment and Impact teams throughout the lifecycle of an investment, from strategic planning to portfolio management, and will report directly to Colin Buckley. CDC preserves and enhances its impact by working closely with its investee companies to protect them from business integrity issues and to strengthen their corporate governance structures. This helps develop a strong risk culture alongside knowledge building and awareness of business integrity risk management.

Commenting on her appointment, Maddy said: “I am looking forward to working closely with CDC’s investment teams and our investees across varied and often challenging markets. I am excited to take on a unique opportunity to further strengthen CDC’s rigorous approach to business integrity, risk management and due diligence. I am keen to lead the team in producing great quality business intelligence that informs decision-making and supports CDC’s ability to invest for impact and solve the biggest global development challenges.”

Maddy holds an MA in Geography from the University of Cambridge and an MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from SOAS.

Earlier in her career she worked as an investment analyst at private equity firm Pantheon Ventures.

Strong business integrity and corporate governance standards are critical in CDC’s core markets of Africa and Asia.

Both markets can present challenging and high-risk investment opportunities that can be associated with complex business integrity and governance issues.

CDC supports its investee partners to adopt globally recognised standards to ensure they can successfully operate on a national and international stage. Maddy will also enhance CDC’s own globally renowned business integrity systems.

Nick O’Donohoe, CDC’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alexandra at such an extraordinary time in CDC’s history. Our Business Integrity team is not only central to our investment process, but critical to our ability to invest in some of the world’s most complex and challenging places, including in fragile and conflict affected states where foreign investment is scarce. Alexandra’s extensive experience in working across emerging markets will be valuable in helping CDC deliver significant impact to its investees and maintaining its strong reputation as a leading impact investor.”