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Oikocredit appoints new Regional Equity Managers for Latin America and Africa

Oikocredit appoints new Regional Equity Managers for Latin America and Africa

08 July 2021

Amersfoort, the Netherlands – Social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit has appointed two new Equity Managers, Valeria Gelsi and Sébastien Rigaud, with responsibility respectively for Latin America and Africa.

In these new roles, Valeria and Sébastien will each manage a portfolio of equity investments, lead their regional teams, and collaborate with Regional Directors and Investment Managers to promote Oikocredit’s strategic objectives. They will promote value-added initiatives for partners and beneficiaries on behalf of Oikocredit.

Oikocredit has made these appointments to support the effective management of its equity portfolio, which doubled in the last five years to  €146 million, and to support future growth. Equity investments make up 17% of Oikocredit’s development financing portfolio.

Valeria first joined Oikocredit as Head of Portfolio for South America in 2010.  In 2012 she moved into the role of Equity Officer for South America. Before joining Oikocredit, Valeria worked as a financial & operational risk head at a microfinance institution in Bolivia. She held various finance and planning positions at a multinational company in Uruguay. Prior to that, she worked as an audit assistant at an international firm in Uruguay. A native of Uruguay, she graduated as a public accountant at the University of Uruguay (UDELAR), where she also earned a master’s degree in management and costs. Valeria resides in Uruguay and is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Sébastien joined Oikocredit in 2014 as an Equity Investment Analyst for Latin America. After three years in The Netherlands,he moved to Colombia in 2017 as an Equity Officer, where he successfully grew Oikocredit’s equity portfolio in the region. Sébastien previously worked in Argentina with the Groupe SOS, a leading French social enterprise. He also worked with microfinance institutions in Madagascar, Bolivia and Cambodia and with two NGOs focused on education in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. He holds a Master of Science in Global Business and a Master in Management from EDHEC Business School. He also received Executive Training on Sustainable Investments in Agriculture at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. Sébastien resides in France and is fluent in French, English and Spanish.

Welcoming the two new appointments, Oikocredit’s Equity Director, Tom Keleher, said, “Valeria and Sébastien have been successful in their previous roles with Oikocredit, have demonstrated their commitment to the objectives of the organisation over many years, and have earned the opportunity to lead regional equity activities. I’m confident we can leverage the many strengths of the entire equity team to continue the strong growth and positive financial and social impact of Oikocredit’s equity portfolio.”

About Oikocredit

Social impact investor and worldwide cooperative Oikocredit has 45 years of experience funding organisations active in financial inclusion, agriculture and renewable energy.

Oikocredit’s loans, equity investments and capacity building aim to enable people on low incomes in Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve their living standards sustainably.

Oikocredit finances close to 550 partners, with total outstanding capital of € 856 million (as at 31 March 2021). For more information see: www.oikocredit.coop.

-Ends-

Note for editors

For more information or to request an interview, please contact Jasmin Panjeta, Communications Business Partner, Oikocredit International, telephone: +31 33 422 4040, email: jpanjeta@oikocredit.org.

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Investor Support, Oikocredit International
Berkenweg 7
3818 LA Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Netherlands
workT: +44 (0) 330 355 33 00

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