In 2016, Adebayo Ogunlesi gained prominence when appointed by then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to the “President’s Strategic and Policy Forum.” Fast forward to 2020, Burna Boy’s song “Wonderful” further catapulted him into the spotlight, making young people curious about this accomplished individual.
Now, Ogunlesi is making headlines for the right reasons. His private equity firm, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), recently acquired by BlackRock Inc. for $12.5 billion, marks a significant milestone in his entrepreneurial journey.
Background and Family
Hailing from Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, Ogunlesi is the son of Professor Theophilus O. Ogunlesi, the first Nigerian Professor of Medicine. In 1985, he married Dr. Amelia Quist-Ogunlesi, a retired British-born optometrist. The couple has two children, Geoffrey, a music executive, and Carl, a music producer.
Education
Ogunlesi’s academic journey includes King’s College, Lagos, where he started, and Oxford University, where he earned a first-class degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Furthering his education, he completed a JD-MBA program at Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School in 1979.
Career Path
Ogunlesi’s career began with corporate law at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. He then served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. In 1983, he joined First Boston’s project finance group, later taking key roles at Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs.
In 2006, Ogunlesi founded GIP, a firm investing globally in infrastructure assets. GIP’s notable acquisitions include London City Airport (2006), majority stake in London Gatwick Airport (2009), Edinburgh Airport (2012), and Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (2018).
His recent deal with BlackRock involves a $3 billion cash payment and 12 million BlackRock shares, totaling $12.5 billion. As part of the agreement, Ogunlesi joins BlackRock’s board and global executive committee, expanding his influence in the financial landscape.
Adebayo Ogunlesi’s journey, from academic excellence to leading major financial institutions and founding a successful private equity firm, showcases his remarkable entrepreneurial prowess. The recent acquisition by BlackRock solidifies his position as a key player in the global financial arena.
