Marking a historic moment, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Trust Fund Committee has appointed Tariye Gbadegeshin as its Chief Executive Officer.
Deemed a groundbreaking move that makes her the first African to hold this distinguished position, she is set to assume her role in March 2024.
Gbadegeshin’s appointment was noted as representing a significant stride for both her career and the landscape of climate finance.
Tariye, daughter of renowned Professor Turner Isoun from Bayelsa State, brings her wealth of experience to her new role, boasting proficiency in French and Spanish with a working knowledge of Portuguese.
Her career route has been marked by leadership roles in infrastructure and climate finance, and the CIF said it recognizes her as a trailblazer in the sector.
As one of the world’s largest multilateral climate funds with over $11 billion in pledges, the CIF said it will not be led by Gbadegeshin in initiatives focused on clean energy transitions, nature-based solutions, and resilience in over 70 developing countries.
Prior to her appointment at CIF, she served as the CEO of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investments, a leading Pan-African substructure fund specializing in energy transition and climate-resilient set-up.
Tariye also held the co-chair position at the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), an international organization ensuring high-integrity voluntary carbon markets for climate action.
Expressing her excitement about the new role, Gbadegeshin emphasized the critical role of developing countries in the climate crisis and the need for collective action to scale climate finance where it is most needed, saying she sees this as an opportune time for the global community to build a multilateral system that addresses climate challenges while uplifting millions our of poverty.
Her journey to this pivotal role includes a robust 20-year career in the financial service sector, amassing over $3billion in transaction experience.
As the managing director and CEO of ARM and Harith General Partners, she played a key role in the success of the fund.
ARM-Harith Infrastructure Funnd Managers were said to be notable the first equity infrastructure fund licensed by the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission under its recent Infrastructure Fund rules.
Also, her impressive track record extends to her involvement in establishing the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan-African Development Finance Institution with $6 billion under her management.
At AFC, she led numerous investments in power, transport, industrials, and telecommunications infrastructure, contributing to the deployment of debt and equity capital across Africa.
Gbadegeshin’s global experience includes stints at the International Monetary Fund, Boston Consulting Group, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
With her deep expertise, commitment and passion for climate finance, Gbadegeshin is poised to steer CIF towards new heights, delivering its impactful climate solutions in the challenging years ahead.
As the first African CEO of CIF, she embodies a commitment to diverse leadership in the fight against climate change.
