Nigerian Finance Professional Brings Emerging Markets Expertise to European Private Credit

Blessing Farounbi has made a significant career transition, joining Allianz Global Investors in Germany as an Associate Vice President in their private credit division. The move represents a notable shift from the Nigerian investment banking sector to European institutional asset management, bringing emerging markets perspective to one of the continent’s leading investment firms. In her […]

Blessing Farounbi has made a significant career transition, joining Allianz Global Investors in Germany as an Associate Vice President in their private credit division. The move represents a notable shift from the Nigerian investment banking sector to European institutional asset management, bringing emerging markets perspective to one of the continent’s leading investment firms.

In her role at Allianz, Farounbi works closely with senior portfolio managers on deal origination, conducting industry screening to gauge financing needs and propose effective debt structures for prospective borrowers across Western Europe. Her responsibilities span the entire investment process, from detailed quantitative and qualitative credit analysis to extensive financial modeling, presenting to investment committees, and negotiating legal documentation. She also coordinates internal and external stakeholders to ensure smooth transaction closures.

A significant aspect of her mandate involves co-managing and monitoring a credit portfolio currently valued at billion’s. This responsibility requires ensuring compliance with investment covenants, achievement of the team’s risk and return targets, and verifying that borrowers’ financial performance meets or exceeds budget expectations. “Managing a portfolio of this scale requires constant vigilance and a deep understanding of credit dynamics across different industries,” Farounbi notes. “Each borrower presents unique challenges and opportunities.”

Her transaction experience at Allianz has been diverse and substantial. She participated in the refinancing of existing debt structure for a Dutch IT consulting company, a transaction that included a sizable acquisition credit facility for future growth. In another significant deal, she was involved in add-on debt financing for a Spanish education service provider, stepping in when the existing bank club reached its lending capacity from the primary transaction.

Perhaps most notably, Farounbi participated in a widely syndicated debt process for the take-private initiative of a listed German company by a top-tier sponsor. Such transactions require sophisticated understanding of leverage, covenant structures, and the dynamics between sponsors and lenders, skills she has developed through both her European and African banking experience.

Her move to Germany was preceded by extensive preparation, including earning a Master of Science in Management from ESMT Berlin in September 2022. Her dissertation, “Measuring the effect of ESG performance on sovereign debt in Emerging market countries of Europe,” demonstrated her analytical capabilities and interest in how environmental, social, and governance factors influence capital markets. This academic work has proven relevant to her current role, as ESG considerations increasingly shape credit decisions in European markets.

Farounbi also completed the Master’s in Management Essentials Program at Imperial College Business School and IE Business School in September 2020, further expanding her business education. Her pursuit of advanced management education while working in demanding investment banking roles in Nigeria speaks to her commitment to continuous professional development.

Her previous experience in Nigeria’s investment banking sector provided a strong foundation for her European role. At Vetiva Capital, where she worked from January 2019 to January 2021, she advised on transactions across digital infrastructure, banking, and energy sectors. Before that, she spent time at United Capital Plc, where she was involved in arranging $1.1 billion in debt financing for an oil and gas acquisition, and completed an internship at KPMG Nigeria focused on the due diligence workstream.

Beyond her technical work, Farounbi conducts market research on trends in private credit and supervises analysts on investment due diligence, including preliminary investment analysis and coordinating industry expert calls. This mentorship role reflects her growing seniority within the organization and her ability to contribute to team development.

She has also earned German Language Certification at the B1 Advanced Level, facilitating her integration into the German business environment and enabling direct communication with German-speaking clients and colleagues. Her professional qualifications include passing the CFA Level 1 exam and qualifying as an Associate Chartered Accountant, credentials that complement her practical experience.

As private credit continues to grow as an asset class in Europe, professionals who combine emerging markets experience with developed markets expertise bring valuable perspective. Farounbi’s journey from Nigerian investment banking to European asset management illustrates the increasingly global nature of finance careers and the transferability of skills across markets and institutions.