LeapFrog Investments, a Profit with Purpose investment group, has appointed David Gonski AC to its Global Leadership Council. The appointment to the international advisory body, comprising distinguished non-executive directors from around the world, begins after Gonski’s departure as Chairman of ANZ Banking Group next week.
One of Australia and Asia’s pre-eminent business leaders, Gonski believes LeapFrog represents a synergy that will drive the future of business: Profit with Purpose.
He will focus on supporting LeapFrog’s leadership team as it expands its portfolio of two dozen high-growth companies across emerging Asia and Africa. Founded in 2007 by Sydney-based CEO Dr Andy Kuper, LeapFrog’s companies have grown, on average, 30 per cent a year and now reach 205 million people with healthcare or financial tools.
Gonski says: “For many years I have seen LeapFrog go from strength to strength, achieving tremendous commercial success and outstanding impact. LeapFrog companies have empowered millions of underserved consumers and, in meeting those needs, delivered outsized returns to investors – a powerful synergy. It is no wonder LeapFrog has raised over USD2 billion from blue-chip institutional investors and high net worth individuals for its private equity funds. That is only the beginning.
“Having seen the inner workings of LeapFrog through my close relationship this past decade with Andy, a world-class CEO, I am confident this firm represents the future of business. We should look to LeapFrog’s model, as the world works to build back better,” he says.
Gonski has spent forty years advising top-tier industry figures internationally and chairing some of Australia’s leading institutions. His prior roles include Chairman of the Future Fund and Coca-Cola Amatil and he remains Chancellor of the University of New South Wales. His distinctive expertise and international network will play an important role in LeapFrog achieving its 2030 goal: reaching one billion people in emerging markets with essential services.
LeapFrog was founded three weeks after Steve Jobs launched the iPhone, heralding a mobile revolution that is seeing four billion new customers join the global economy. The firm backs businesses that combine digital outreach, data analytics, innovative product design and local agency forces. Fortune recently named LeapFrog as one of the top five Companies to Change the World, alongside Apple and Novartis.
David Gonski will serve on LeapFrog’s Global Leadership Council alongside several global leaders:
Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia
Henri de Castries, former Chairman and CEO of AXA
Simon Israel, former Chairman of Singtel
Jaime Augusto Zobel De Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation
Bharat Doshi, former Director of the Reserve Bank of India
Dr Andy Kuper, founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, says: “It has been a great gift to have David as a mentor, investor and friend on this growth journey. He is one of those rare human beings who operates at the highest level yet retains deep humility. His track-record of enabling business success and social impact in Australia and Asia speaks for itself; we are kindred spirits in this commitment.
“Backed by David and his fellow global leaders, we will seize the historic opportunity – to invest in innovative businesses in the world’s fastest-growing markets, delivering strong returns for investors and reaching one billion people with essential services by 2030.”
