Team

Our team of dedicated individuals have a wealth of experience in Africa and the power sector. They are committed to Gridworks’ mission and the opportunities we develop and invest in.

Simon Hodson

Chief Executive Officer

Simon is the Chief Executive Officer of Gridworks. Simon has a wealth of experience making and managing direct investments in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Prior to Gridworks, Simon held leadership roles at a London based family office and 11 years with IPS (part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development) based in Paris, as well as establishing investment businesses on the ground in Cyprus and Cuba and worked for CDC Group in his early career. Simon is a Natural Sciences graduate of King's College, London and is a qualified Charted Accountant.  

Camilla Summerskill

Executive Assistant

Camilla is an Executive Assistant at Gridworks. She supports Simon and the wider team in daily and corporate operations. Camilla holds a BA in History and an MA in International Politics from Newcastle University. Camilla has previously held roles in the international development sector, most recently working at a leading international health NGO operating in a similar geography to Gridworks.

Shaun Githuku

Investment Executive

Shaun is an Investment Executive at Gridworks.** Shaun joined CDC Group four years ago as part of the Equity Infrastructure team, prior to which he worked at PwC, primarily advising infrastructure clients across East and West Africa. Shaun supported the development of the CDC strategy that underpinned the formation of Gridworks and brings specialist knowledge in electricity transmission and distribution (on and off-grid). Shaun holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Chris Flavin

Director

Chris is a Director at Gridworks*. He has responsibility for developing and managing investments. Chris has extensive international project development and M&A experience which spans Africa, Asia and Europe. Prior to joining Gridworks, Chris spent five years at CDC Group, the final three of which included a focus on transmission & distribution projects and off-grid investments. Chris is a qualified lawyer and spent nine years in private practice advising private equity investors prior to joining CDC Group’s legal team in 2014. 

Richard Olley

Legal Counsel

Richard is Legal Counsel at Gridworks. His role includes corporate operational matters as well as supporting Gridworks’ investment activities in a legal capacity. Richard previously worked at Clifford Chance LLP specialising in private equity transactions. During his time at Clifford Chance, Richard worked on a number of African infrastructure projects and emerging market transactions, including while on secondment to CDC Group. Richard is a qualified lawyer.  

Helen Tarnoy

Chairman

Helen is the Chairman of Gridworks, and is widely known and respected across the African continent by both host governments, development finance institutions and multilaterals. She has worked at board and senior management levels for over twenty years, firstly in M&A and then in the power industry. After working for the AES Corporation on privatisations in Hungary, she rose to become CEO of the national power company in Cameroon, where she lived for two and a half years. In 2004, she co-founded Aldwych International, one of the most successful Africa-focused IPP developers. Helen has a wealth of corporate and project finance experience, is a seasoned negotiator and public speaker. Helen has an MA from Oxford in Modern Languages.

* Currently on secondment from CDC ** CDC Representative