Stephane Chatonsky, WG'97 Partner LeapFrog Investments Sydney

Wharton Speaker >> Biography

Stéphane Chatonsky leads the East Asia work for LeapFrog Investments. LeapFrog is a leading impact investment fund that has pioneered a different way of doing business in emerging markets. The $135 million fund invests in companies that aim to serve the ‘next billion’ emerging and under-served consumers with essential financial tools, focusing on insurance. LeapFrog targets both attractive financial returns and social impact from reaching this vast untapped market of low-income people who are willing to pay for affordable services yet are offered none. Through its portfolio companies, the fund aims to reach 25 million under-served people. Launched with President Bill Clinton in 2008, LeapFrog has attracted several of the world’s leading banks, funds and reinsurers as investors. It is now the largest investor globally in microinsurance and other essential financial services. The fund’s priority countries include Indonesia, India, the Philippines, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. To date, LeapFrog has invested across 5 countries, contributed to robust operational and financial performance of its portfolio companies, and currently reaches over 8.6 million people.

Stéphane has over 15 years of experience in private equity, investment banking and strategy across Europe and Asia Pacific. His career includes posts at Lazard Fréres & Co, working on IPOs and privatisations; McKinsey & Co, focused on financial services and telecommunications; Macquarie Bank, managing private equity transactions and development of green-field companies; and Telecom New Zealand, driving Group M&A and Investments. Building on this track record, Stéphane established his own practice, investing with or advising private equity funds, family offices and their portfolio companies on deal sourcing and structuring, due diligence, transaction management, business planning and performance improvement. He led or was centrally involved in over 20 private equity transactions. Stéphane teaches Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Valuation as an adjunct at two leading Australian business schools. He holds an MBA from Wharton.