Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec recently announced the appointment of Anita Marangoly George as Managing Director, South Asia. Based in Delhi, Ms. George will head CDPQ India, with the objective of finding the best investment opportunities across all asset classes in South Asian markets. CDPQ has also announced its commitment to invest USD 150 million in renewable energy in India, a first for CDPQ in growth markets.
CDPQ announces the creation of CDPQ India, based in New Delhi
CDPQ, one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers with CAD 248 billion in net assets, announced the establishment of its Indian office in New Delhi.
CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure and real estate. In addition to its presence in South Asia through CDPQ India, CDPQ is present in Montréal, Québec city, New York, Washington, Mexico City, Paris, Singapore, Sydney and Beijing.
“We believe India stands out as an exceptional country to invest in, given the scope and quality of investments opportunities, the potential for strategic partnerships with leading Indian entrepreneurs, and the current government’s intention to pursue essential economic reforms,” said Michael Sabia, President and Chief Executive Officer of CDPQ.
Appointment of Anita Marangoly George as Managing Director, South Asia
CDPQ announced the appointment of Ms. Anita Marangoly George as Managing Director, South Asia. Ms. George will play an instrumental role in developing and monitoring CDPQ’s investments in South Asian markets, especially in India. Using her deep knowledge of the region, she will establish and maintain close relationships with key public and private institutions to support CDPQ’s investment teams across all asset classes.
“With Ms. George’s vast experience in the South Asian business environment, CDPQ will be ideally positioned to identify the right partners and the best opportunities,” said Rashad Kaldany, CDPQ’s Executive Vice-President, Growth Markets. “We are pleased to see Ms. George join our organization and contribute her talent and expertise as a former senior World Bank Group executive to help us implement our investment strategy in India.”
“I look forward to joining CDPQ India’s office and to contribute to the performance of CDPQ in South Asia, a region that offers attractive investment opportunities in a number of key sectors,” said Ms. George. “I am pleased to combine my knowledge of South Asian markets and my experience in several industries alongside CDPQ’s investment teams to enhance our presence in growth markets.”
Ms. George has a solid track record in managing global investment portfolios in infrastructure, more specifically in the energy, oil and gas, mining, water, transportation and logistics sectors. Before joining CDPQ India, she was Senior Director of the World Bank Group’s Global Practice on Energy and Extractives. Prior to her position at the World Bank, Ms. George was Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Before that, she was Head, Siemens Financial Services in India.
Ms. George holds a BA in Economics and Spanish from Smith College, in Massachusetts, and a Masters in Economics and a MBA in Finance from Boston University. She has traveled extensively and spent several years in Washington, DC while covering growth markets globally. She has in-depth knowledge of private and public development institutions, and extensive experience in many regions of the globe including Europe, South and Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Ms. George will take up her new position on April 1, 2016.
Commitment of USD 150 million for renewable energy investments in India
Already a significant investor in renewable energy, CDPQ is one of the largest private investors in wind energy in North America, financing over 5,400 MW of wind power through its stake in Invenergy. CDPQ is also a major shareholder of London Array, the largest offshore wind farm in the world, generating 630 MW of wind energy.
CDPQ plans to commit USD 150 million to renewable energy investments in India. Over the next three to four years, CDPQ will use its commitment to target hydro, solar, wind and geothermal power assets, with investments likely to take the form of select partnerships with leading Indian renewable energy companies.
Ms. George has been a pioneering supporter of financing renewable energy in growth markets and helped finance the first commercial solar project in India and several first renewable projects in growth markets around the world. She has also worked with the oil and gas industry towards setting a global standard for Zero Routine Gas Flaring by 2030, a World Bank initiative.
