Lionel ZINSOU

Former Prime Minister, Bénin, Co-founder, Southbridge

Lionel ZINSOU was a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PAi Partners. He is an economist and investment banker and served as Prime Minister of Benin in 2015. Late 2013, following the France-Africa Heads of State Elysée Summit, Lionel ZINSOU chaired a new Public-Private African-French Foundation for Growth. Lionel joined PAI partners in 2008. He started his professional career as a lecturer and a professor in economics at Paris 8 University, and was a member of the department of Industry’s Ministerial office and of the Prime Minister’s office. In 1986, Lionel joined Danone where he held various positions including Group Corporate Development Director, Managing Director of HP and Lea & Perrins and member of the Group Executive Committee. In 1997, Lionel joined the Rothschild Bank as General Partner; he was the Head of the Consumer Products Group, the Head of Middle East and Africa and a member of the Global Investment Bank Committee. He was appointed Chairman and CEO of PAI partners in 2009., Mr. Zinsou is a graduate of the French Ecole Normale Supérieure (1975), and holds advanced degrees in Social Sciences and Economic History from Université de Paris IV, Université de Paris VII, the London School of Economics, and the Institut des Etudes Politiques. < Back to Speakers