LONDON and SYDNEY, Dec. 12, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- LeapFrog Investments has appointed two new Partners, both dedicated to growing the group's portfolio of financial services companies in South and Southeast Asia.

"LeapFrog is building on its success in emerging Asia, having repeatedly invested in global brands of tomorrow, and accelerated their growth and performance," said LeapFrog founder Dr. Andrew Kuper. "With Michael and Stewart's deep financial sector expertise and networks, we expect to build on this extraordinary track record and further scale our impact."

Michael Fernandes has nearly 20 years of experience in operations, consulting and investing. He was previously Country Head for India for Khazanah Nasional, the sovereign fund of Malaysia, where he focused on financial services and infrastructure, and was responsible for over USD 700 million of direct investments. He also managed the Khazanah healthcare portfolio, consolidated under IHH Healthcare and listed in Singapore for a USD 7 billion valuation. Previously, Mr. Fernandes led the USD 250 million global custom manufacturing business for the Piramal Healthcare Group, and prior to that was a partner at McKinsey & Co.

Stewart Langdon, formerly Director of Investments, has been promoted to Partner. Mr. Langdon joined LeapFrog from Rothschild, where he played a key role in the founding and rapid growth of the firm's Dubai office, and prior to that was with Ernst & Young. He co-led LeapFrog's landmark investments in Mahindra IBL and Shriram CCL, innovative pan-Indian companies that provide affordable insurance, savings and investment products to millions of customers.

The firm expects to make further hires in both Asia and Africa in 2013.

LeapFrog is a global leader in profit-with-purpose investing. The fund invests in high-growth financial services companies in Africa and Asia that serve the next billion consumers. LeapFrog targets top-tier returns from its portfolio of companies across seven countries, which together also provide nearly 10 million people with financial tools and security for their families and businesses. Investors in the fund include leading global banks, funds, development finance institutions and reinsurers. LeapFrog is the recent winner of the Investor of the Year award from Business Insider and of the Sustainable Investor of the Year special commendation award from the Financial Times and IFC.

Tahira Dosani
Director, Global Engagement and Strategic Projects
LeapFrog Investments
+61 424 076 476
tahiradosani@leapfroginvest.com

Maggie Edinger
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
+1 212 885 0370
maggie.edinger@hkstrategies.com

SOURCE LeapFrog Investments