Ian Callaghan brings nearly 20 years of expertise to the areas of SME finance, microfinance and finance for other “base of pyramid” products and services. From 2005 to 2008 he led the investment bank Morgan Stanley’s efforts in the field of microfinance, latterly as head of its Microfinance Institutions Group where he arranged some $250 million in loans for some 35 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in 20 countries. This included the two largest transactions completed in the sector, those with BlueOrchard in 2006/07; the second of which won the FT’s Sustainable Finance “Deal of the Year” award in 2008.
He has worked with many other MFIs and microfinance networks worldwide, and been involved in “base of pyramid” products and services such as clean water and distributed energy. He was also Senior Director of Investments at the Omidyar Network in 2008/09.
From 2000 to 2006, Ian was a specialist consultant on SME finance and risk, first with a City of London consultancy and latterly (2004/06) at Morgan Stanley. During this time he advised many of the UK and Europe’s leading banks on SME financing and risk transfer strategies.
From 1990 to 2000 Ian was a “green entrepreneur”, owning businesses operating in the tourism, event management and consulting spheres in the Western Isles of Scotland, one of Europe’s most remote and economically disadvantaged communities.
Ian brings to this wide career experience the realistic perspectives of 25 years in West Africa, where he was born and brought up.