Sherif ElKholy | Managing Director and Head of the Middle East & Africa
Actis

Cairo-born Sherif has spent most of his life in the Middle East region, apart from a period of time spent in London where he earned a Ph.D. in Economics and an MSc in Finance and Economic Development (with Distinction), both from the University of London. Sherif started his career at EFG-Hermes Private Equity, investing in Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, and then switched to structured finance at HSBC where he focused on infrastructure project finance. In 2004, Sherif joined Actis as an associate focusing on North Africa. Now a Managing Director leading Actis’s business in the Middle East & Africa, he has played various deal leadership, execution, investment management and exit roles across 13 different transactions spanning multiple sectors including Wind Power, Solar C&I, Telecommunications, Education, Healthcare, and Consumer Sectors.  Sherif also played a leadership role in the transaction leading up to Actis taking over management rights of the Middle East, Africa, and South East Asia funds previously managed by Abraaj Capital in 2019.  Sherif is a visiting Professor of Finance at the American University in Cairo, where he has regularly lectured on private equity and awarded the “Excellence in Teaching Award.” He is also a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Arab Republic of Egypt and a member of the Young Presidents Organisation.