Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), a Pan-African private equity firm, has announced the promotions of Brice Lodugnon and Paul Maasdorp, two of its senior investment professionals, to Managing Directors. 

The promotions reflect their sustained contribution to ECP’s performance and deep knowledge of the regional markets in which they work. 

The company has also appointed Nonnie Wanjihia Burbidge, whose extensive familiarity with private equity in Africa reinforces ECP’s strong on-the-ground presence, as a Vice President engaged in Sub-Saharan Africa fundraising activities.

Hurley Doddy, Co-CEO and Founding Partner of ECP, said: “ECP’s latest appointment and promotions reflect our commitment to continuously building a senior management team that has a breadth of complementary skills, knowledge, and networks to help us achieve our investment objectives across Africa.”

Lodugnon and Maasdorp have been with ECP since 2001 and 2010, respectively. 

They have focused on managing existing investments and leading the firm’s investment processes from deal sourcing and investment appraisal to transaction execution.

Lodugnon has played an integral role in the firm’s investments in and management of Eranove, NSIA, Oragroup, and Thunnus Overseas Group. 

Maasdorp has played a central role in the firm’s investments in and management of IHS Holdings, Java House, Remitix Holdings, and Maarifa Education.

Lodugnon leads the Abidjan office, where he focuses on Francophone West Africa, while Maasdorp covers Anglophone markets with a focus on East Africa and is based out of ECP’s Nairobi office.

Burbidge joins from the East Africa Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (EAVCA), which she founded and led as Executive Director since 2013. 

Burbidge will will be based in Nairobi and will assist ECP’s fundraising activities in Sub-Saharan Africa with a particular focus on East and South Africa. 

Burbidge seeks to expand ECP’s growing investor base, which includes development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, funds of funds, family offices, pension funds, and insurance companies, focusing in particular on ECP’s investor base on the African continent.

Commenting on her appointment, Burbidge said: “There is great potential for private equity investments in African markets and I am delighted to join ECP which has been active across the region for 16 years. I look forward to working with the team and our partners to support new and existing investment opportunities.”