Shelter Afrique (SHAF), a pan-African housing development financier, announced on Tuesday, August 16, the appointment of Thierno Habib Hann as its new CEO, succeeding Andrew Chimphondah who left the company earlier this year.
Originally from Guinea (Conakry), Thierno Habib Hann has over 20 years of experience in strategic positions in the banking sector and multilateral financial institutions. He is currently Head of Asia/Pacific Housing Finance and Capital Markets at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), based in Bangkok. In this role, he leads the strategy development and implementation of the housing finance program, which has a portfolio of over US$2 billion. Prior to that, he held a similar position in charge of Africa and the Middle East, based in Nairobi.
Over the years, Thierno Habib Hann has developed housing finance transactions in the United States, Latin America, and Eastern Europe worth more than $32 billion.
Thierno Habib Hann will join Shelter Afrique at the end of his current contract with IFC.
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Shelter Afrique is the only pan-African financial institution that exclusively supports housing and real estate development in Africa. It is a partnership between 44 African governments, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Reinsurance Company and the African Solidarity Fund (ASF). Shelter Afrique builds strategic partnerships and offers a multitude of products and related services to support the effective delivery of affordable housing and commercial real estate.
International Career
Thierno Habib Hann has extensive international experience in housing finance, capital markets and structured finance, setting up and managing investment funds with banking and multilateral institutions. He began his career in New York City, where he worked for 11 years, including at the consulting firm Arthur Andersen, LLC, as a senior consultant in financial services and capital markets. Subsequently, he worked at JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs as a Director and Vice President, respectively, and led investment teams issuing mortgage-backed securities (RMBS/CMOs) and credit derivatives (CDS) at those firms. He also worked at the World Bank Group as Director of the Private Sector Development Program in Guinea, whose main responsibility was to design and implement the Business Climate Improvement Program, while developing a pipeline of bankable investments and advisory projects to the government in strategic sectors of the economy.
Thierno Habib Hann holds an MBA in Finance and Investment from the Zicklin School of Business, Bernard Baruch, New York; a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance (MSTCF); and a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Applied Economics (GEA), obtained with honors, from the University of Paris IX Dauphine. He is a member of NYSSA (New York Society of Financial Analysts), the International Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He has also passed the NASD (National Association of Stockbrokers) trading series 7 and 63 licenses in New York.
Thierno Habib Hann is the co-founder of “AngelAfrica” – a pan-African investment platform. He is fluent in French and English, with a working knowledge of Spanish.
Highly competitive selection process
Ephraim Bichetero, president of Shelter Afrique, said the selection process was very competitive, based on merit and competence. “Mr. Hann has extensive international experience in housing finance, capital markets and structured finance, creating and managing investment funds with banking and multilateral institutions, spanning over 20 years. He brings with him extensive development and investment leadership experience, a keen insight into the real estate landscape and a strong track record of delivery. Over the years, he has developed housing finance transactions in the United States, Latin America and Eastern Europe valued at more than $32 billion. He is expected to strengthen governance, embody our values and drive the company’s investment strategy focused on delivering affordable housing at scale.”
Welcoming his appointment, Thierno Habib Hann said he was thrilled with the opportunity to lead Shelter Afrique especially as many African countries are facing a major shift in their housing programs. “It is an honor to lead this team at this critical time and together we will work to harness national resources to improve the lives of local people and achieve the mandate of Shelter Afrique,” said Thierno Habib Hann.
