Our Team

The founders, board and investment team behind Yaro Capital Limited.

Our Leadership

Dr. Tralance Addy

Tralance Addy is co-founder and CEO. Formerly International Vice President at Johnson & Johnson (J & J), he has a distinguished track record of technology and business innovations in both corporate and start-up organizations, and his professional career is marked by leadership of path-breaking businesses and programs around the world.

Other Professional Highlights

Graduate of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, with BA in Chemistry and a BS in Mechanical engineering. Subsequently earned MS and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Former Worldwide President of Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a J&J division he co-founded
Former VP of R&D of J&J Medical, Inc., and a member of the Global Management Committee.
First Executive Director of the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (Stanford|SEED), and a primary architect of the inauguration institute’s Transformation Program in Africa
Founder and former President of Plebys International LLC, a venture management firm targeting developing economies
Former President and CEO of WaterHealth International (WHI), leading the development of WHI’s innovative business model to provide affordable potable water to underserved populations in Asia and Africa
Past and current civic leadership roles include membership of Swarthmore College Board of Managers, Board of Directors of Ashesi University Foundation, Advisory Board of the Sustainable Enterprise Institute at the University of North Carolina, and the Advisory Board of Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth (CTY)

Nik Amarteifio

Nik Amarteifio is co-founder and Board Chair. A seasoned and highly successful business executive, he is currently Chairman DAS Plc, one of the largest indigenously owned listed pharmaceutical companies in Ghana. Nik has a long track record of success in investing and building businesses in Africa, across a wide spectrum of sectors. His deal-making experience spans the media, mining, healthcare, and agri-business sectors.

Other Professional Highlights

Founder of Citi FM/TV, the premier English media station in Ghana
Vice-Chair of Ghana Agro-Foods Company (GAFCO)
Engineered the establishment in Ghana of Zenith Bank, Nigeria’s second-largest banking group.
Former member of the Ghana Investments Advisory Council (GIAC
Has served on numerous boards, including the Bank of Ghana, GCB Bank, The African Selection Mining Corporation, and International Gold Resources, a Toronto Stock Exchange listed company

Nik holds a BA degree in Economics from Wesleyan University, USA, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sir Sam Jonah (KBE)

Sir Sam Jonah is co-founder, Director, and Chair of the Investment Committee. One of the most prominent African business executives, he has a long track record and global reputation for extraordinary accomplishment as an investor and international business leader, distinguished by the building of international companies and the creation of exceptional value for investors. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital. He was formerly Executive President of Anglo-Gold Ashanti, having spearheaded its transformation into a multinational public company.

Other Professional Highlights

Founder and Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, a private equity company focusing on the mining sector
Executive Chairman of Mobus Properties Ltd, a privately held commercial and residential property development company in Ghana & Nigeria
Chancellor of University of Cape Coast in Ghana
Former Executive Chairman of Moto Goldmines, a mining company based in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Former Executive Chairman of Equinox Minerals, a Canadian mining company based in Zambia
Serves on numerous international boards, including the Global Advisory Council at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Vodafone PLC, Helios Towers UK, and Hollard Insurance

Sir Sam is a graduate of Camborne School of Mines and Imperial College where he studied Mining Engineering and earned an MSc in Mine Management respectively.

Ben Agyeman

Ben Agyeman is Chief Investment Officer. His experience includes investments, deal structuring, and corporate and project finance, in Africa, Latin & Central America and Asia, with expertise in technology, cleantech and pharmaceuticals. Former Managing Director at MPC Capital AG, a German-based Global investment manager of real assets, where he led investments in renewables and industrials in emerging markets.

Other Professional Highlights

Ben received a bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Electronic/Electrical Engineering from London South Bank University and an MBA from Columbia University in New York.

Previously Head of Investments and Structured Finance at Ferrostaal Industrial/Topsoe Projects GmbH, where he oversaw energy infrastructure co-investments in projects spanning Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
Venture Capital Investment Director at Gulf Finance House, focusing on investments across the Middle East and Africa
Telecoms, media, and technology investment banker at UBS AG.
Co-founder of first broadband-over-powerline company in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ben received a bachelor’s degree (Honors) in Electronic/Electrical Engineering from London South Bank University and an MBA from Columbia University in New York.

Dr. Andrew L. Lux

Andrew L. Lux is an Operating Partner. He is an Operations and Technical specialist with over 40 years of experience in overseeing and directing global operations. With extensive and deep expertise in supply chain, manufacturing, quality systems, and engineering management, he has a highly successful track record in building companies from startups to multi-million-dollar global businesses. He is the President of JL Enterprise Group Inc. and formerly VP of Operations at Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (J & J).

Other Professional Highlights

President of JL Enterprise Group Inc. a consulting firm specializing in operational excellence, business strategy, and quality operations.
VP of Operations at Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, where he led the development of the manufacturing systems to manage the growth of the company from US$5 million to US$550 million within 6 years
Senior VP of Operations a Atricure, a medical products start-up that eventually went public
Certified Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma
Senior executive positions in two start-up companies sold to GE Medical
Full time lecturer at the Ohio State University’s School of Engineering and adjunct professor position at the University of Dayton’s School of Business.

Andrew earned a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Cleveland State University, MS & PhD degrees in Material Science and Engineering from MIT, and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

Constantin Salameh

Constantin Salameh is a Board Director and a seasoned investment advisor with over 35 years of experience in funding, developing and transforming corporations, SMEs and startups across diverse industries including healthcare, renewable energy and fintech. He is the Founder and Managing Director of CSTouch Advisors, and former CEO of 3 global investment groups.

Other Professional Highlights

Chairman and Board Director of several innovative scaleups across the Middle East and Africa.
Former CEO of global investment groups including Al-Ghurair Investments (UAE), HP International Bank (Ireland) and SAFINVEST (Switzerland).
Former CEO of HP Financial Services in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.
Former Investment Advisor and Board Member of multiple social enterprises in East and West Africa as part of the Stanford SEED Program.
Head of Investments of several acceleration programs in the MENA region, funded by USAID, GIZ, DROSSOS Foundation and others.
Investor in more than 20 innovative ventures in the EMEA region

Constantin is a graduate of King’s College (University of London), with a BSc in Engineering. He subsequently earned an MSc in Engineering from M.I.T and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Jo Addy

Jo Addy is Director of Operations and Regulatory Affairs. She is an international economist with 30+ years of business strategy formulation and hands-on implementation in both corporate and start-up organizations. She was a Country Economist at the World Bank, former Portfolio Manager & Money Market Economist at First Republic Bank, Texas and International Economist at Crocker/Midland Bank, California.

Other Professional Highlights

Long-term Board Director of global health organization PATH, including chair of Audit and Risk committee
Former VP Administration & Communications/LLC Manager at Plebys International LLC, Irvine CA.
Former Consulting Program Development director at Design & Technology Institute in Ghana
Former New Initiatives Lead at IDEO.org, California.
Fluent in French.

Jo has a BA in Economics from Smith College, an MBA from Adelphi University, an ABD in Industrial Economics from Stanford University and an MPA in Corporate Governance from Harvard University.

Dr. Richard Chivaka

Dr. Richard Chivaka is an independent board director. A strategic thinker and opinion leader with decades of delivering results across entrepreneurial ecosystems, corporate and government boards, and academia. He is Founder & CEO of Spark Health Africa; an organization focused on strengthening health systems in Africa.

Other Professional Highlights

CEO at Marimba Global Investors.
COO at DCI Holdings
Associate Professor in Strategy and Supply Chain at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Former Research Scholar & Visiting Professor at the Stanford University Institute of Innovation in Developing Economies (Stanford|SEED).
His Board & Advisory directorships include J&J MDI Southern Africa, CONSAMS, WHO, World Bank Group

Working Group Member, Center for Global Development

Richard holds a B.Com degree from the National University of Science & Technology in Zimbabwe, an MSc in Finance & Accounting from Manchester University and a PhD in Accounting from the University of Cape Town.

Lorna Payandi-Pillay

Lorna Payandi-Pillay is a designated independent member of the board of directors. She has over 20 years of professional experience in the global financial services sector, and is a Corporate Manager at IQEQ, a premier provider of corporate, trust, and fund administration services, based in Mauritius. She has played a leading role in the establishment and ongoing administration of many global business entities. She manages a diverse client portfolio consisting of institutional investors and multinational corporations.

Other Professional Highlights

Arshad Goodur

Arshad Goodur is a designated independent board member. He has over 15 years of experience in the global business sector and has advised multinational corporations, fund managers, and high-net-worth individuals on structuring, implementation, and administration of companies, funds, and limited partnerships in Mauritius.

Other Professional Highlights

Director of Client Services, Fund Service Department at IQEQ, leading a team of professionals who specialize in fund administration.
Member of the Mauritius Institute of Directors.
Approved officer by the Financial Services Commission (“FSC”) of Mauritius.

Arshad holds a diploma in Accounting and Business Administration and a certificate from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK.