University of the Western Cape (UWC) alumnus Leslie Maasdorp has been appointed CEO of British International Investment (BII) -  the UK government’s development finance institution. His appointment was recently featured in BusinessTech, which detailed his extensive career in both the public and private sectors and his impact on global finance.

Maasdorp graduated with a BA in Economics and Psychology at UWC. His early career was deeply rooted in the country’s transition to democracy, playing a key role in post-apartheid economic restructuring. He served as a special advisor to then-Minister of Labour, Tito Mboweni, and later became Deputy Director-General of the Department of Public Enterprises, where he helped restructure and privatise state-owned enterprises, including preparing Telkom for its JSE listing.

Maasdorp’s expertise in finance and economic development led to his groundbreaking appointment as the first African International Adviser at Goldman Sachs International in 2002. He later co-founded Yard Investment Holdings, a private equity firm, and took on leadership roles at Barclays Capital, Absa Capital, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, strengthening financial institutions across the region.

In 2015, the Cabinet appointed Maasdorp as South Africa’s representative at the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) in Shanghai, where he served as Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. Over two terms, he was instrumental in raising more than $15-billion and managing the bank’s global bond programmes. BusinessTech noted his contributions, stating that he was “responsible for treasury, accounting functions, and portfolio management” at the NDB, further solidifying his reputation as a leader in emerging market finance.

Now, as CEO of British International Investment, Maasdorp leads an institution that invests approximately £1-billion (R23-billion) annually in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. According to BusinessTech, BII is the “UK government’s primary vehicle for delivering climate finance in emerging markets” and has a strong focus on financial services, healthcare, technology, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Reflecting on his journey, Maasdorp acknowledged the significance of development finance in shaping the future of emerging economies. “The private sector is the principal engine of economic growth and prosperity. BII plays a vital role in supporting economies to grow, create jobs, and raise living standards in Africa, Asia, and beyond,” he told BusinessTech.

The Business Tech article can be found here

Thumbnail Image: British International Investment