Wed, Jan 7, 2026
A A A
Welcome Guest
Free Trial RSS pod
Get FREE trial access to our award winning publications
Industry Updates

Abraaj brings on Kito de Boer to lead impact investing business

Monday, September 18, 2017
Opalesque Industry Update - The Abraaj Group, a leading investor operating in global growth markets, today announced the appointment of Kito de Boer as Managing Partner.

Mr. de Boer has over 30 years' experience across diverse geographies and sectors.

In 2014, Mr. de Boer was appointed by US Secretary of State John Kerry to become Head of Mission of the Office of the Quartet based in Jerusalem with a specific focus on the economic track of the Middle East Peace Process. Mr. de Boer assumed overall leadership when former Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped aside as Quartet Representative.

Prior to this diplomatic posting, Mr. de Boer spent 29 years with McKinsey & Co. based in London, New Delhi and Dubai. Mr. de Boer was one of the initial team of Partners that created the India Practice in 1993 and went on to found and lead the Middle East Practice in 1999 and the Global Government Practice in 2009. Mr. de Boer was Head of the Public and Social Sector Practice for EMEA from 2009 onwards.

Mr. de Boer will oversee Abraaj's Impact Investing business and will spearhead the Group's global efforts to deploy private capital as a means of tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges. According to the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present at least US$ 12 trillion of investable opportunities and could create 380 million new jobs by 2030. Abraaj's Impact Investing line of business is aligned to the SDGs and is currently focused on accessible healthcare and clean energy in growth markets.

Arif Naqvi, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Abraaj Group said, "For us, investing with impact is core to the markets in which we operate. There is a real opportunity for businesses to positively address and deliver on the SDGs. Throughout his distinguished career, Kito has demonstrated both a commitment to these aspirations and a professional excellence that matches our own. I am confident his experience will help guide our goals to expand and grow this increasingly important line of business."

Mr. de Boer added, "I am delighted to be joining Abraaj. To be relevant as a leader in the next era of Impact Investing is to be material. The challenge of funding the UN Sustainable Development Goals is one of scale. Meeting this funding challenge will demand an investment platform with the combination of scope to penetrate those geographies and sectors most in need of capital, performance credibility based on track record, and a values system that will nurture partnerships across the ecosystem of sectors - public, private, philanthropic and development. Not only is Abraaj preeminent - no other Firm has the relevant scope, credibility and values - but more importantly, it has the vision and will to demonstrate that high performing capitalism can and must do good in addition to doing well."

What do you think?

   Use "anonymous" as my name    |   Alert me via email on new comments   |   
Previous Opalesque Exclusives                                  
Previous Other Voices                                               
Access Alternative Market Briefing

 



  • Top Forwarded
  • Top Tracked
  • Top Searched
  1. Other Voices: Nvidia extraordinary growth and the challenge of sustaining demanding valuations over time[more]

    Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, writes: Nvidia has established itself as one of the most extraordinary growth companies in the global technology sector. Over the past two fiscal years, its revenues have risen from levels close to $60 billion annually to well above $120 billi

  2. Secondaries take center stage: What the 2026 PE landscape means for GPs and investors[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: The 2026 edition of Dechert's Global Private Equity Outlook - "Signs of a Gradual Thaw" - marks a notable shift in industry sentiment. After years of compr

  3. Opalesque Exclusive: Hedge funds outperform mutual funds in managing extreme risk contagion - key insights for investors[more]

    Matthias Knab, Opalesque for New Managers: Hedge funds and mutual funds are among the most prominent vehicles for investors seeking growth and diversification. However, a critical question persists: which fund ty

  4. Other Voices: Life settlements hedge funds are gaining acceptance among institutional investors[more]

    By Donald A. Steinbrugge, CFA - Founder and CEO of Agecroft Partners, a global hedge fund consulting and marketing firm. Over the past decade, life settlements hedge funds have steadily gained acceptance among institutional investors. Their appeal lies in the potential to deliver

  5. And, finally: Time to share it with the people[more]

    From Newsoftheweird: Leavenworth, Washington, has become a tourist destination because of the Bavarian theme businesses have adopted there, NPR reported. One shop, the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, houses the world's largest nutcracker collection, thanks to 101-year-old Arlene Wagner. Wagner sta