Constantine 'Labi Ogunbiyi

Chief Executive

Mr Ogunbiyi is a founder and the Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited. He is also a founder of Afren plc and prior to his appointment as Chief Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited, he served as Executive Director of Afren and was responsible for business development, strategy and growth, where he led Afren's negotiating teams in acquisitions and debt financings, particularly in Nigeria. He has also served as Special Advisor to the previous Chairman, General Counsel for the Group, as well as a Director of Afren's Nigerian wholly-owned subsidiaries. He has significant and extensive experience of private equity, acquisition, structured, trade, development and project finance, and public and private partnerships in the African energy and infrastructure sectors in particular.

Prior to joining Afren, he was the Deputy Head of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP's Africa Practice. Before this, Mr Ogunbiyi spent over four years with Herbert Smith's International Finance and Banking Department. He has also served as a strategic adviser to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Business Group and the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Banking Association’s PPP Unit. He holds Legal Qualifications from the universities of London (King's College), Passau (Germany) and Oxford.