LeapFrog Investments, a specialist investor in emerging markets financial services, has appointed two new partners and expanded its leadership team.

Karima Ola joins LeapFrog as a Partner.

Widely recognised for shaping the investment landscape in Africa, Ola was previously CIO and member of the board at African Development Corporation (ADC), where she initiated the company’s entry into Nigeria and led a number of substantial transactions across Africa.

She was formerly a Managing Partner of Chayton Capital and Executive Director of Corporate and Investment Banking at HSBC.

In addition, Nick Moon has been promoted to Partner, based on an exceptional track record as Head of Co-Investment and Investor Relations.

He has made LeapFrog the partner of choice for many of the world’s largest and most sophisticated investors, and driven dramatic expansion of assets under management.

Previously, Moon was a Director of the FW Group, the UK’s largest SME-focused fund manager, where he co-founded FW Capital, the Group’s growth private equity arm.

Dr. Andrew Kuper, Founder and CEO of LeapFrog, said: “We are delighted to welcome Karima and Nick to the partnership, and to be employer of choice for some of the finest investment and value-creating professionals."

"These individuals illustrate LeapFrog’s ability to attract extraordinary and ethical leaders, and to cultivate a deep bench of talent. We will continue to grow and hire across our markets in 2016, building a diverse team united by our shared philosophy of profit with purpose,” he said.

During 2015, LeapFrog continued to expand its distinctive value creation capabilities with a range of senior hires.

Vaughan Lindsay, previously CEO of UK charity Dartington Hall Trust and of McKinsey & Co., joined as Director, leading LeapFrog Labs, the firm’s dynamic R&D hub.

Simon Martin joined as Director, driving value-creation initiatives across LeapFrog’s portfolio companies.

Martin was previously with Accenture, where he developed the firm’s inclusive banking strategy.

Akua Owusu-Akonor, previously a senior HR business partner at Vodafone PLC, joins as Associate Director, guiding HR, recruiting and change management for LeapFrog’s portfolio companies.

The firm anticipates continued rapid growth in 2016.

LeapFrog’s latest fund is 75% committed and reserved, just 15 months after its final close; and in December, OPIC approved a commitment to LeapFrog of up to $200m.