Bruno-Maurice Monny

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Bruno-Maurice is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Kessner. In his role, he applies his expertise and network to drive the firm’s mission of advancing innovation and development by providing greater access to non-traditional capital. He is responsible for the sourcing, structuring, and execution of transactions.

Before Kessner, Bruno-Maurice started his career at J.P. Morgan and BNP Paribas in New York. He furthered his expertise at a boutique firm in London, specializing in structured credit and private debt transactions in Sub-Saharan Africa, where he helped originate, structure, and execute multi-million-dollar credit derivative and infrastructure transactions.

Later on, he was appointed Partner at a Swiss private investment firm.
Bruno-Maurice is fluent in English and French and graduated from Durham University.

Remi Burdairon

Chief Investment Officer

Rémi is the Chief Investment Officer at Kessner and brings three decades of extensive expertise in commodity trading, business development, transaction structuring, risk management, and trade finance. With a rich career history, Rémi has held pivotal roles as CEO and senior executive at prominent global agricultural trading firms and financial institutions across Africa, including Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Ameropa, BTG Pactual Bank, Barak Fund Management, and Alteia Fund.

Throughout his career journey, Rémi has refined his skills and accumulated invaluable experience in navigating the multifaceted landscape of the industry. His profound understanding of market dynamics and strategic vision empower Rémi to effectively manage and optimize ventures, drive growth, and cultivate sustainable business relationships. Rémi’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation solidifies his standing as a respected leader in commodity trading and finance in Africa.

Rémi is born in Senegal and is fluent in English and French.

Xin Delacre

Head of Operations

Xin is a Head of Operations at Kessner. Her role encompasses several key responsibilities, including investment execution, performance reporting, risk monitoring, and providing direct support to the Investment team. Xin’s experience spans roles such as Credit Expert at Crédit Agricole, M&A Manager at AXA Group, Capital Manager at SCOR, and Senior Manager at Ernst & Young.

Her entrepreneurial ventures in artificial intelligence have further enriched her strategic acumen. This diverse background enables Xin to adeptly manage complex transactions and drive sustainable growth for portfolio companies. Her leadership and analytical skills are pivotal in expanding the firm’s footprint. She is a qualified French Actuary and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD, where she was honored with the INSEAD Women for Excellence Scholarship.

Xin is fluent in Mandarin, English and French.

Charles Millon

Chairman of the Advisory Board

Charles Millon is a distinguished figure in French politics, best known for his tenure as Minister of Defence from 1995 to 1997 under Prime Minister Alain Juppé. A former member of the Union for French Democracy (UDF), Millon represented Ain in the National Assembly across multiple terms from 1978 to 1995 and from 1997 to 2001. He led the UDF parliamentary group from 1989 to 1995, succeeding Jean-Claude Gaudin. Additionally, he served as the mayor of Belley, his hometown, from 1977 to 2001 and as president of the Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes from 1988 to 1999.

From 2003 to 2007, Millon served as France's Ambassador in Rome, representing the country at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) within the United Nations. During this time, he built an extensive network of contacts across Africa, engaging with both public and private sector leaders and establishing connections in agriculture and renewable energies. Today, Millon is recognized as a leading specialist on African affairs, leveraging his vast experience and international relationships to influence developments on the continent.

Colin Rezek

Member of the Advisory Board

Colin Rezek is a founding partner of Vantage Capital, a leading private equity firm based in South Africa that specializes in mezzanine debt and equity financing for mid-sized companies across the African continent. Established in 2001, Vantage Capital was created to address the significant gap in the market for growth capital in emerging economies.

Under Rezek's leadership, the firm has become one of Africa's largest independent mezzanine debt providers, known for its strategic and innovative approach to investing. The firm has built a robust portfolio by deeply understanding market dynamics and fostering growth in various industries, including real estate, renewable energy, and healthcare. Through Vantage Capital, Rezek continues to play a crucial role in driving economic development and supporting entrepreneurial ventures throughout Africa.

Mr Rezek's extensive experience in investment banking and private equity has been instrumental to the formation of the advisory board.

Ike Chioke

Member of the Advisory Board

Ike is a prominent Nigerian investment banker and financial advisor, known for his expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and capital markets. He is the Group Managing Director of Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, a leading investment banking firm in West Africa. Under his leadership, Afrinvest has grown significantly, handling numerous high-profile transactions and contributing to the development of Nigerian capital markets.

He is also involved in philanthropy, particularly in education and economic development initiatives. Ike Chioke is a respected thought leader, frequently speaking at industry conferences and contributing to professional bodies in the financial sector.

Ike Chioke holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a first-class degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Frederic Le Bourgeois

Member of the Advisory Board

Frederic has over 30 years of banking and held senior management positions in French and African banks and is, therefore, well-versed in European bank Management and regulatory envelopes, as well as the requirements and realities of banks in the developing world.

Frederic also served as Managing Director of the independently regulated Paris subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria UK Ltd. The branch specialized in correspondent banking for Sub-Saharan countries. He handled all negotiations with Banque de France, including licensing, regulatory oversight, and a correspondent client base of 55 banks in 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

In 2018 Frederic received the prestigious European Parliament award for financial development in Africa.

Christiane De Livonniere

Member of the Advisory Board

Born in Senegal and raised in Mali, Christiane embarked on a distinguished career marked by her expertise in communication and commitment to public service.
She was head of the communication service at the UDF from 1978 to 1984, shaping the party’s image under Jean Lecanuet’s presidency. Transitioning to parliamentary affairs, Christiane worked as parliamentary attaché to François d’Aubert at the National Assembly from 1984 to 1995. Christiane also served as chief of staff to the Minister of Budget in France and later the Minister of Research from 1995 to 1997.

Christiane has showcased exceptional leadership and strategic acumen throughout her career, driving initiatives to advance public welfare.