Bobby J. Pittman is the Managing Director of Kupanda Capital, a boutique investment platform focused on Africa. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Infrastructure, Private Sector and Regional Integration at the African Development Bank from 2009 to 2012. In this capacity, he managed one of the largest portfolios in Africa, including more than $25 billion in active projects across 52 African countries.
Mr. Pittman previously held senior positions at several U.S. government agencies, including the National Security Council, Treasury Department, State Department and White House.
From 2006 to 2009, he served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs in the White House. In that capacity, he was the President's lead advisor on Africa issues as well as the President's Africa Personal Representative (APR) to the G8. During his tenure, Mr. Pittman was part of a White House team which oversaw the design and execution of key initiatives such as the Africa Financial Sector Initiative, President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), Africa Education Initiative, and Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Pittman served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Development Finance and Debt at the Department of the Treasury. He was a key architect and the lead U.S. negotiator of the 100 percent debt relief proposal endorsed by the G8 at the Gleneagles Summit in July 2005. To date, this effort has delivered more than $40 billion in debt stock cancellation for the world's poorest countries. He also acted as lead representative of the U.S. government for the multi-billion dollar replenishment negotiations of the World Bank, African Development Bank and Asian Development Bank in 2004-2005.
Mr. Pittman graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University, and received an M.A. in economics from the University of Chicago.
Mr. Pittman was recently named to Africa Fund Manager's 'Power 50', noting that he is "One of the world's most prominent figures when it comes to African business."