Adebayo Ogunlesi is a Nigerian-born investment banker and entrepreneur renowned for his influential role in global finance. Here are key highlights about him:

Career Overview:

Education: Ogunlesi earned degrees from Oxford University (Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) and Harvard University, where he obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Professional Achievements:

He served as an attorney at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore before transitioning to finance.

Ogunlesi worked for Credit Suisse First Boston (CSF, where he rose to become the Global Head of Investment Banking.

In 2006, he founded Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an independent infrastructure fund that manages investments in sectors like energy, transport, and water. GIP is one of the largest infrastructure-focused investment firms globally.



Board Membership:

Ogunlesi joined Goldman Sachs as a board member in 2012.

He served as the lead independent director of Goldman Sachs from 2020 to 2024, before retiring from the position.


Accomplishments:

Notable Investments: Under his leadership, GIP acquired significant assets, including London’s Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

Recognition: Ogunlesi has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential figures in the global financial industry.

Cultural Impact: As one of the most prominent African figures in global finance, Ogunlesi is celebrated as a trailblazer for African professionals in international business.