ADVISORY BOARD ⸻

Ben Zwinkels

Senior Board Advisor

Ben Zwinkels is a seasoned expert in banking, private equity, and business development with over 40 years of experience, particularly in Africa, and currently serves as a Senior Board Advisor to NextBold Capital.

Beginning his career with cooperative banking initiatives in Cameroon and SME development in Tunisia during the 1970s, Ben joined FMO, the Dutch Development Bank, in 1982.

Over his 30-year tenure at FMO, he led investments in more than 40 banks and 35 investment funds, spanning 62 emerging countries. His expertise established him as a leading authority on private equity in Africa, where he also co-founded the African Venture Capital Association and revitalized the Netherlands Africa Business Council.

Following his retirement from FMO, Ben has held prominent leadership roles, including Chairman of the Board at AfricInvest and board memberships at Group Bank of Africa and First Afriland Group, both of which operate in over 25 African countries.

He has also contributed to private equity initiatives in Mauritius and Vietnam, where he particularly instrumental in helping attract development finance capital to the first crop of professional Vietnam private equity managers, such as Mekong Capital.