Nick O’Donohoe

Nick O’Donohoe was Chief Executive Officer of British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution (DFI) and one of the largest bilateral DFIs in the world, from April 2017 until November 2024. During his tenure, the organisation grew from 250 to over 700 people, deployed more than US$10bn in private sector investments across Africa and Asia in support of private sector development, and became the UK Government’s leading provider of climate finance to emerging economies. It also led innovation across a broad range of key areas, including gender lens investment, blended finance, impact measurement, and funding to lower-income countries, particularly in Africa. Immediately prior to joining BII, Nick spent 14 months as Senior Advisor on blended finance to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In 2011, Nick and Sir Ronald Cohen co-founded Big Society Capital (BSC). BSC was supported by the UK Government, funded by dormant bank accounts, and is considered the world’s first social investment wholesaler. Nick served as CEO for five years, developing the organisation and leading several important policy initiatives that have attracted over £10bn to the UK social sector. Between 1996 and 2011, Nick worked at JP Morgan, holding senior roles such as Head of European Equity and Global Head of Research, during which time he led the creation of the world’s No 1-ranked research department. He served on the Management Committee of the Global Investment Bank and the Executive Committee of JP Morgan Chase. He also helped lead the creation of the bank’s Social Sector Finance unit and was the senior author of JP Morgan’s groundbreaking 2010 research report, ‘Impact Investments – An Emerging Asset Class?’. Between 1981 and 1996, Nick worked at Goldman Sachs in London and Zurich.

Nick has served as a board or advisory board member at several leading impact and development finance organisations, including Global Impact Investing Network, the European Development Finance Institutions, Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. He also chaired the UK Dormant Asset Commission, which published its report in 2017.

Nick was awarded the title of Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2022 Jubilee Birthday Honours List.