Community Engagement | Dedeso Holdings Incorporated

Chris Godsall

Founded Triton Logging in 2000. Led the development of the underwater logging industry through technology design, harvest concession development, inventory assessments, logging services, and eco-wood sales using Triton patented SHARC™ and Sawfish™ Underwater Harvester systems.
Built commercially successful and award-winning enterprises from the ground up. Managed the development of patented technology and led the commercialization of successful US, Canadian and international operations.
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Ziva Dynamics Inc., a software company with the vision to transform human interaction in virtual spaces.
Consults for Fortune 500 companies and SMEs in North America and Europe to develop and implement results-oriented solutions with a focus on strategic business development, finance, production, and supply chain management.

Education: MSc., Sustainability and Business Practices, University of Bath, B.A. Political Science, McGill University

Elkin Pianim

Co-Founder and Partner at Serengeti Capital.
Over 15-years experience in African markets, both in principal and advisory roles covering diverse industries including finance, infrastructure, manufacturing and extractive industries.
Experienced media entrepreneur. Acted as a principal in a US$40M buyout of 2 TV stations in the USA. Founded a weekly newspaper in the UK, later sold to the Mirror Group. Trained as an investment banker at Rothschild Inc. in NY.

Board roles: African Champion Industries, Farmers Alliance, Afrinvest (Nigeria), Dedeso Holdings Incorporated, Serengeti Capital.

Education: MBA, London Business School, B.A. Economics, Vassar College.

Kodwo Mills

Founder and CEO of Invictus Africa Group
Over 15-years investment banking experience, extensively involved in sourcing, structuring, implementing and monitoring various private equity investments in African markets
Former acting CEO and a co-founder of Shanduka Group, a South African investment company that has a multi-industry portfolio of 30+ investments valued in excess of $1 billion. Also previously the Managing Director of Shanduka’s R300 million private equity fund, Shanduka Value Partners Fund I

Board roles: Invictus Africa Group, Stanbic Bank Ghana

Education: MBA, Harvard Business School, B.A. Economics, Georgetown University

Francis Kalitsi

Co-Founder and Partner at Serengeti Capital.
Over 15 years of investment and economic development experience in emerging markets across Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Former Head of Africa Real Estate, Renaissance Partners and Director of Investment Banking and Finance, Renaissance Capital.
Former Investment Officer at IFC. Structured and executed over US$1billion of debt and equity investments in Latin America, MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe.

Board Roles: Voltacars Rental Services, Farmers Alliance, Dedeso Holdings Incorporated, Serengeti Capital.

Education: MBA, Univ. of Chicago Booth School of Business; BSc. Business Administration & Management, Boston University

Wayne Dunn

Founded Clark Sustainable Resource Developments (CSRD), focused on salvaging and marketing tropical forests submerged by Lake Volta. Negotiated ground-breaking concession for salvaging timber in Lake Volta, and raised over US$20M in various rounds from investors including Goldman Sachs and Barclays Capital.
Professor of Practice in Corporate Social Responsibility at McGill University. Led the development and delivery of Executive Programs in CSR Strategy and Management in Canada and in Africa.
President of CSR Training Institute, a global presence in social responsibility and sustainability strategy, training and implementation.
Consults globally on social responsibility, sustainability, and strategy for leading natural resource companies

Board roles: Founding Member of the Advisory Board of the EU Africa Chamber of Commerce, Former Vice-Chairman of the Canadian Council on Africa, Chairman of the Middle East North Africa CSR Summit (2016), EU Africa CSR Dialogues.

Education: Professor of Practice in Corporate Social Responsibility at McGill University, MSc., Management, Stanford University Graduate School of Business