Acorus Capital

Acorus provides a return to our investors and stakeholders that is based on the concept of people, planet, and profit. This is rooted in our values of Integrity, Responsibility, and Collaboration.
Each of our investments aims to generate growth in key sectors for sustainable economic development and a positive contribution to people’s lives or the environment. We leverage our own expertise with a network of influential African business leaders and entrepreneurs to provide operational expertise and contribute to company growth. From Asia we draw a deep network of strategic corporate partners who may invest in our transactions to boost growth further.
The investment advisory team is in Hong Kong which is the ideal crossroads to deliver on the Asia and Africa pillars of our investment thesis.

Leadership Team

Executive Leadership

Andrew Macintosh

Chairman

As Acorus’ Chairman Andrew is an invaluable resource in directing strategy related to China and has helped solidify the Chinese pillar of our Investment thesis. He has a first-hand understanding of the dynamics that govern Chinese private sector outbound investment. Andrew is a resident of Hong Kong.

Andrew is currently an Executive Director of the Hanhong Group and CEO of Hanhong Private Equity (Hong Kong), a Chinese private equity firm (hanhongpe.com). Hanhong’s funds have raised US$ 1bn and invest in financial services in China and offshore in natural resources including oil & gas, gold and other resources critical to China’s development. Andrew is charged with the internationalisation of the Han Hong Group’s profile and growing offshore investments and AUM.

Maxine Barnett

Founder and CEO

Maxine is the CEO and CIO of Acorus Capital which she founded in 2011. Her South African background combined with 10 years working in Asia provided a unique opportunity to observe the early and growing trend of China’s expansion in South Africa. Maxine is experienced in developing investment platforms and has a track record of delivering high returns. She oversees the different pillars of Acorus investment thesis, drives the team, and allocates resources. A strongly motivated individual, she is quick to identify areas of development and delivers through a deep China and Africa network.

Prior to this Maxine had established a 13 year career in investment banking specializing in trading and risk management in equity derivatives. She was responsible for starting BNP Paribas’ South African warrant platform and then managed their South Africa and emerging markets portfolios from 1999-2004. She was asked to develop similar businesses initiatives in Hong Kong for local and regional markets to address growth in Asia in 2004 for RBS, Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers.

Anthony Carroll

Director

Tony was an early participant in the China-Africa investment space working as the Africa advisor since 1996 to a large family office in Hong Kong. Tony has been working as a commercial lawyer and business consultant in Africa for 35 years. His career has taken him across the length of the continent and into both public and private sector transactions. Tony has built up an extensive network in Africa which is extremely valuable to Acorus and accounts for Tony’s strong deal origination. His sector strengths are in agri-business, health care, construction and mining. The countries where he regards his relationships to be the strongest are Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa and Botswana.

In addition to his role at Acorus Tony is also Vice President of Manchester Trade Limited which serves businesses that have a stake in guarding against, reducing, or eliminating government-imposed obstacles to international trade and trade-related transactions in Africa. It has successfully shielded its clients from excessive import duties, costly customs entry procedures, import quotas, and a myriad of other non-tariff barriers to trade and investment flows. Tony is an adjunct professor at School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, and Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.

He has served on the Africa advisory boards at EXIM Bank, OPIC, USTR and was also a congressional nominee to the Board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Pierre Suhrcke

Director

Pierre’s extensive private equity background and experience in working with company management teams brings great value to the Acorus portfolio. He serves on the Acorus Investment Committee and provides input on risk management. Pierre sector strengths are in financial services, financial technology and data/risk analytics.

Before to joining Acorus, Pierre served as the European General Partner of ABS ventures, a spin-off of Deutsche Bank’s private equity venture business, and managed 3 vintages to successful exit. Prior to this Pierre spent 17 years at Deutsche Bank London and Frankfurt notably as the global head of the risk management group. Pierre Suhrcke has been on the board of a number of companies in the US and Europe. Among them RiskMetrics, the global leader in Financial Risk Analytics for Banks and Hedge Funds, Treman the leading risk and treasury management company.

Magnus Mchunguzi

Director

Magnus Mchunguzi, 46 is a seasoned executive who has worked in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years. He has worked with the likes of Ericsson, Siemens, and also had a stint on the operator side culminating in him becoming Deputy CTO. Magnus has been involved in the ICT sector since 1993 and has been part of the journey the continent has travelled over the period from less than 1% penetration to over 50% penetration today.

Magnus recently left Ericsson after almost 15 years of diligent service to pursue his own business interests, primarily in the technology sector.

Magnus holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Reading University in the UK and has attended numerous lectures and studies at leading Universities of the World.

Magnus is a Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI) of the Aspen Global Leadership Initiative, and a Member of Young President Organization (YPO). He leads a very active lifestyle and is an avid reader and lives in Johannesburg with his family.

Executive Leadership

Andrew Macintosh

Chairman

Maxine Barnett

Founder and CEO

Anthony Carroll

Director

Pierre Suhrcke

Director

Magnus Mchunguzi

Director

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Executive Leadership

Andrew Macintosh

Chairman

Maxine Barnett

Founder and CEO

Anthony Carroll

Director

Pierre Suhrcke

Director

Magnus Mchunguzi

Director

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