Actis hires CFO from portfolio business – exclusive

Susan Wilkins previously led the finance functions at two of the growth markets investor's portfolio companies.

Susan Wilkins

Growth markets investor Actis has appointed its first CFO, hiring Susan Wilkins from portfolio company Lekela Power.

Wilkins was previously CFO and head of legal at Globeleq, an energy business founded by Actis in 2002, and subsequently group CFO of Lekela, another emerging markets energy platform established by Actis. She will sit on the executive committee.

This role has a remit covering finance, fund administration, tax, corporate organisation and IT, Wilkins told pfm. The bulk of compliance work will sit with the legal team.

“Actis has gone through and continues to project a lot of growth and change,” Wilkins said. “My priority is to understand how my team can drive further value for the business.”

Actis has 16 offices around the world and Wilkins will be based in London. The finance and operations team is spread around the office network with “a large established team in India,” Wilkins said.

Actis has raised $15 billion since it was founded in 2004 following a spin-out from UK development finance organization CDC Group. It now has around 120 investment professionals and runs multiple strategies, including private equity, energy and real estate. It is understood to be in the process of raising a financial services focused fund and has been in discussions to take over assets from Abraaj, the growth markets investor being dismantled by liquidators.