Leslie Nelson is a private equity and energy executive with over 25 years of global business experience, including more than 15 years working across Africa.
A British citizen with Ghanaian roots, he has built his career at the intersection of finance, infrastructure, and energy.
Nelson began in investment banking at Merrill Lynch and UBS before moving to SES Americom (former GE subsidiary) and then GE Capital in New York. At GE, he rose to lead Africa’s ~$1 billion Power Business while also serving as Country CEO for Ghana and leading the Development and Investment team. In these roles, he oversaw investments in power, oil and gas, aviation, and healthcare, helping to deploy capital into critical Infrastructure projects.
From 2018 to 2020, he joined New Fortress Energy as Managing Director for Africa, playing a key role on the global management team and helping guide the company’s successful IPO in 2019. Today, he is the founder of an Africa-focused energy transition platform, aimed at delivering affordable, reliable, and cleaner power solutions.
Alongside his executive work, Nelson serves on several Boards and advisory councils. He is also dedicated to philanthropy, funding the university tuition of 15 students from the Village of Hope Orphanage in Ghana, while mentoring them towards graduation and careers.
A former avid tennis player, Nelson now plays golf to a single handicap. He divides his time between London, Accra, and New York, and remains committed to building bridges between global capital and African development.
Leslie Nelson on Leadership, Energy, and Building Bridges
Q&A with Leslie Nelson
Can you tell us about your early life and what shaped you?
I grew up in the UK as the eldest of three boys in a Ghanaian family. My father was an accountant and my mother worked in publishing. Sport was a big part of my life—football, tennis, schoolboy boxing and basically all racquet sports. That discipline from sport carried into my professional life.
How did you begin your career in finance?
After finishing at the University of Ghana, I started in investment banking with Merrill Lynch and UBS. It was the late 1990s, a fast-paced time. I learnt how markets moved and how decisions made in London or New York rippled across the world.
What led you to General Electric?
I began in New York with GE Capital, covering private equity and sponsor finance. Later, I moved into business leadership. I eventually became CEO for GE Africa’s $1 billion power business and Country CEO for Ghana. It was a turning point. I was responsible for significant infrastructure investments, and I saw the direct impact of infrastructure on people’s lives.
What were the challenges of leading GE in Africa?
Energy in Africa is about more than numbers. It’s about hospitals that need reliable power, schools that need light, and businesses that cannot grow without it. The challenge was always to balance global systems with local realities.
Tell us about your time at New Fortress Energy.
From 2018 to 2020, I led African operations and sat on the global management team. We took the company public in 2019. That experience taught me the importance of building credible teams, developing an investment thesis, having a strategic plan and the capital to back it up to support growth and investments.
What inspired you to found your own energy transition platform?
In 2021, I started a platform focused on Africa’s energy transition. I decided to bet on myself and place my chips in the middle of the table. The goal is simple: decarbonise while expanding access and I have staked my career on this move. In 2023, we formed a joint venture with one of Africa’s largest private equity firms. That partnership helps us scale. The future of energy in Africa must be affordable, reliable, and tailored to local needs.
You also dedicate time to education. Why is that important to you?
Through the Village of Hope Orphanage, I fund tuition for 15 students who made it to university. I bought them laptops and mentor them regularly. They will graduate in 2026. Education creates opportunity, and I want them to succeed not only for themselves but for their communities.
How would you describe your leadership style?
Hands-on but collaborative. Thinking big and looking at the art of the possible. I don’t believe in having all the answers. My role is to help teams see the bigger picture and empower them to act.
What advice do you share with young professionals entering your field?
Adaptability is key and timing is everything. The world changes fast, and in Africa especially we experience the multi speed world on a regular basis, conditions shift daily. Be resilient, be curious, and never forget why you started.
What keeps you grounded outside of work?
Family. I enjoy travelling with my family and sometimes friends. Experiences over material things. Playing golf, and spending time with my mother. These are the moments I live for.
