Layth Al-Falaki appointed new CEO of GuarantCo

  • Date written
  • November, 2021

GuarantCo Management Company (GMC) has appointed Layth Al-Falaki as its new Chief Executive Officer of GuarantCo starting mid-January 2022. GMC is the manager of GuarantCo, a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company.

Layth Al-Falaki appointed new CEO of GuarantCo - News

Layth has been the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at PIDG since April 2018. He is currently also a non-executive member of the Boards of PIDG companies the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund and GuarantCo.

Before joining PIDG, Layth was CRO at ICICI Bank UK, the European hub of India’s largest private sector bank, where his responsibilities included credit, operational, market and liquidity risk as well as regulatory frameworks. Prior to this, he was the CRO at the British Arab Commercial Bank, formerly part of the HSBC group. Layth has had a long career in banking and has in-depth experience of dealing in emerging markets. His experience includes trade services, operations, audit, marketing, correspondent banking and compliance. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Management Science and a Master’s degree in Operational Research from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Yukiko Omura, Chair of the GuarantCo Board and Director of PIDG, said:

“I am delighted with Layth’s appointment.  His significant banking and emerging market experience, his CRO role at PIDG and his Directorship at GuarantCo will set him up successfully for his new CEO position at GuarantCo whilst ensuring the continuation of leveraging the multiple product propositions that the various PIDG companies can offer to deliver a significant impact to support sustainable, essential infrastructure financing in lower income countries across Africa and Asia.”

Philippe Valahu, CEO of PIDG, said:

“This appointment is a great decision for GuarantCo and PIDG. Layth will bring knowledge, experience and a deep understanding of the markets we operate in and will help the PIDG Group further strengthen its position.”

Joost Zuidberg, Chief Executive Officer of Cardano Development and Chair of GuarantCo Management Company, said:

“Following a thorough recruitment process, I am pleased that Layth has been selected and accepted the GuarantCo CEO role.  His in-depth experience, PIDG and GuarantCo knowledge and his working style has made him the ideal candidate for the role.  I look forward to working with Layth to further establish GuarantCo as a local currency house that delivers long-term credit solutions to bridge the infrastructure financing gap to people in countries who need it most.”

Layth Al-Falaki, Chief Risk Officer of PIDG and forthcoming CEO of GuarantCo, said:

“I’m delighted to have been appointed as the new CEO of GuarantCo and excited to continue to deliver the important work that can make a difference where it is needed the most. I see this as a vital part of the overall PIDG offer and I’m looking forward to working with the team on innovative solutions to take GuarantCo to the next level.“

NOTES TO EDITORS

About GuarantCo

GuarantCo mobilises private sector local currency investment for infrastructure projects and supports the development of financial markets in lower income countries across Africa and Asia. GuarantCo is part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and is funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia and Sweden, through the PIDG Trust, the Netherlands, through FMO and the PIDG Trust, France through a stand-by facility and Global Affairs Canada through a repayable facility. GuarantCo is rated AA- by Fitch and A1 by Moody’s. GuarantCo’s activities are managed by GuarantCo Management Company which is part of Cardano Development www.guarantco.com

About PIDG

The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is an innovative infrastructure project developer and investor which mobilises private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and south and south-east Asia. PIDG investments promote socio-economic development within a just transition to net zero emissions, combat poverty and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PIDG delivers its ambition in line with its values of opportunity, accountability, safety, integrity and impact. Since 2002, PIDG has supported 171 infrastructure projects to financial close which provided an estimated 217 million people with access to new or improved infrastructure. PIDG is funded by the governments of  the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, Germany and the IFC www.pidg.org

Cardano Development

Cardano Development (CD) is an incubator and fund manager, established in 2007. Through careful risk-management analysis in data poor settings, CD identifies scalable solutions that can help to make frontier financial markets more inclusive, investible, and sustainable to unlock lasting economic value. CD creates scalable solutions for currency, credit, and liquidity risks in these markets. With over USD 5 billion assets and USD 1.2 billion capital under management, CD supports five scale-up funds: TCX, GuarantCo, Frontclear, BIX Capital and AGRI3 Fund and four start-ups: ILX, the Water Finance Facility, IMFact and NASASA with ongoing management services and corporate governance oversight www.cardanodevelopment.com