Adebayo Ogunlesi is a prominent Nigerian-born lawyer and investment banker, currently serving as the chairman and managing partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a private equity firm specializing in infrastructure investments.

Recently, GIP, now a subsidiary of BlackRock, led a consortium that acquired over 40 ports worldwide, including key ports at both ends of the Panama Canal, in a deal valued at approximately $22.8 billion.

 

Early Life and Education

Born on December 20, 1953, in Sagamu, Nigeria, Ogunlesi is the son of Theophilus O. Ogunlesi, the first Nigerian professor of medicine at the University of Ibadan.

 

He attended King’s College in Lagos before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. He furthered his education at Harvard, obtaining both a Juris Doctor (magna cum laude) from Harvard Law School and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

 

Career Milestones

• Legal Beginnings: Ogunlesi began his career as a law clerk to Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1980 to 1981.

• Investment Banking: He joined First Boston (later Credit Suisse First Boston) in 1983, where he held several senior positions, including Global Head of Investment Banking, Executive Vice Chairman, and Chief Client Officer.

• Global Infrastructure Partners: In 2006, Ogunlesi co-founded GIP, focusing on infrastructure investments. Under his leadership, GIP acquired significant assets, including London City Airport, London Gatwick Airport, and Edinburgh Airport.

  In January 2024, BlackRock agreed to acquire GIP for approximately $12.5 billion, integrating Ogunlesi and his team into BlackRock’s operations.

Recent Acquisition of Panama Canal Ports

The recent acquisition of ports at both ends of the Panama Canal was part of a broader strategy by BlackRock, under CEO Larry Fink, to expand its infrastructure holdings. The consortium purchased 43 ports from CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd, including the critical Panama facilities, marking a significant move in global infrastructure control.

 

Board Memberships and Recognitions

Ogunlesi serves on the boards of several organizations, including BlackRock, OpenAI, Topgolf Callaway Brands, Kosmos Energy Holdings, and Terminal Investment Limited.

 

He was previously the Lead Director of Goldman Sachs Group.

 

In January 2025, he joined the board of directors of OpenAI, reflecting his influence in both finance and technology sectors.

Adebayo Ogunlesi’s strategic vision and leadership have positioned him as a key figure in global infrastructure, exemplified by his recent role in the acquisition of the Panama Canal ports.

Adebayo Ogunlesi
Group Office of the Chairman
Teams Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location North America
Bayo Ogunlesi is a Founding Partner and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). He is a Senior Managing Director of BlackRock and a member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee (GEC) and its Board of Directors.

Prior to the formation of GIP in 2006, Mr. Ogunlesi spent 23 years at Credit Suisse where he held several senior positions, including Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Client Officer of its Investment Banking Division. From 2002 to 2004, he was Head of the Global Investment Banking Division and a Member of the Executive Board and Management Committee.

Previously, Mr. Ogunlesi was an attorney with the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He also served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Thurgood Marshall, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been a Lecturer at the Harvard and Yale Law Schools and the Yale School of Management where he taught courses on transnational investment projects.

Mr. Ogunlesi holds a B.A. (First Class Honors) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University, a J.D. (magna cum laude) from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of BlackRock, OpenAI, Topgolf Callaway Brands, Kosmos Energy Holdings and Terminal Investment Limited. He was previously the Lead Director of Goldman Sachs Group. He is a Member of the Dean’s Advisory Boards of the Harvard Law and Business Schools and the Harvard University Global Advisory Council.