Blackstone’s Black Rhino appoints Chairman of Board of Directors

Blackstone and Black Rhino have announced the appointment of His Highness Emir Muhammad Sanusi II to join Black Rhino’s Board of Directors as Chairman.

Black Rhino was formed in January 2012 to develop and to invest in transformational infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa’s power generation and fuel transportation sectors.

Mr. Sanusi was named Emir of Kano in June 2014, the second-highest Muslim authority in Nigeria. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Sanusi had a distinguished 25-year career in banking. Sanusi began his career in 1985 at ICON Merchant Bankers, a subsidiary of Morgan Guaranty Trust and Baring Brothers, and later ran the credit and risk management division at the United Bank for Africa. In 2005, Sanusi moved to First Bank, where he was named managing director in 2009.

In June 2009, in the midst of the global financial crisis, Sanusi was appointed Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank. Mr. Sanusi has been named “Central Bank Governor of the Year” and “Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa” by The Banker Magazine, and one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.”

Brian Herlihy, Black Rhino’s Founder and CEO, stated:

“One can scarcely imagine a stronger addition to the Black Rhino Board. The Emir has unparalleled insights into Africa’s regional and local socio-economic development needs and the role that power and infrastructure development can play. We know as Chairman of Black Rhino, the Emir will provide business as well as moral guidance in all our endeavors across Africa. It is an honor and a privilege to announce His Highness, the Emir of Kano as the Chairman of Black Rhino.”

Sean Klimczak, a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone who oversees the firm’s global private equity investments in power generation and natural resources, commented:

“We are pleased that Emir Sanusi has agreed to lend Black Rhino his considerable expertise and wisdom as Chairman. We look forward to working closely together as we develop energy solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Mimi Alemayehou, Chair of Blackstone African Infrastructure LP and Managing Director at Black Rhino, stated:

“Emir Sanusi has a comprehensive mastery of the interdependence of Africa with the global economy. He has the courage and integrity necessary to give us the full, candid and impartial counsel that a long-term investor in Africa needs. We are gratified and, indeed, privileged to have a partner of such immense stature alongside us as we chart our course.”

His Highness Emir Muhammad Sanusi II added:

“I am honored to join the Board of Black Rhino, a company that is looking to develop infrastructure projects in places where there is the most need to transform communities. We live in a time of intense competition for capital and I do hope that by joining the Board I can play some part in bringing some of that capital nearer to home.”