Silverbacks adds advisory board members and director of communication
Silverbacks Holdings, an investment firm focused on sports, tech, media, and lifestyle businesses in Africa, has strengthened its team.
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Silverbacks Holdings, an investment firm focused on sports, tech, media, and lifestyle businesses in Africa, has strengthened its team by adding Rahul Mehta and Vymala Poligadu-Thuron to its advisory board and appointing Dina Kamel as director of PR, communications, and external relations.
Silverbacks welcomed Rahul Mehta, as the latest addition to the advisory board of directors. Mehta is the co-founder of Outdrive GP where F1 and professional drivers compete against esport sim racers at live events across the world. He has extensive experience advising companies on investment strategies and supporting sports organisations to expand their reach. Mehta has been involved in diverse sectors including private equity, real estate, mining, and sports.
Mehta currently serves as a partner at Amryta Capital and director of Parker Lloyd Group, where he oversees the firms' investment portfolios in hotels, restaurants, and mining assets.
Mehta commented, "I am excited to join Silverbacks' advisory board and look forward to helping African companies tap into new opportunities for growth."
Ibrahim Sagna, chairman of Silverbacks, stated: "We are delighted to welcome Rahul Mehta to our advisory board. His extensive experience in investment, finance, and sports management will provide valuable guidance as we continue to grow and expand. His insights and network will help us tap into new opportunities and markets. We look forward to benefiting from his expertise and perspectives. His insights and network will provide us with new opportunities and access to fresh markets. We look forward to tapping into his expertise and benefiting from his perspectives."
Silverbacks Holdings also onboarded the governance, gender, and diversity expert, Vymala Poligadu-Thuron. She is an experienced development professional with exposure in a range of development programmes and organisations. Previously, she served as the deputy managing director of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, overseeing a $200 million fund of funds, and currently is a director at Triple A - Alliance and Advocacy for Africa.
Poligadu-Thuron commented: "I am honoured to join this innovative and forward-thinking investment platform that acknowledges and invests in Africa’s talent and creativity."
Sagna added: “We are honored to welcome Vymala Poligadu-Thuron to our board. Her expertise in governance and initiatives focused on closing the digital access gap in Africa, as well as empowering women and youth in MENA and sub-Saharan Africa, will be invaluable to our mission."
Dina Kamel, a communications expert with more than a decade of experience, has been appointed as a director of PR, communications, and external relations.
Commenting on her new role, Kamel stated, "I am honoured to join the Silverbacks Holdings team. I eagerly anticipate enhancing our dynamic environment, which is always exploring innovative strategies to drive success for our investors and founders. I am excited to amplify the success stories emerging from Africa in sports, tech, media, and entertainment to a global audience."
"We are also delighted to welcome Dina Kamel as our new director of PR, communications, and external relations. Her expertise will be instrumental in advancing our communication efforts and strengthening our brand," Sagna added.
Silverbacks has recently invested in South Africa's NERGii, a private venture that provides products to recreational and professional athletes. Some of Silverbacks’ other investments include: the Cape Town Tigers, a semi-finalist basketball team in the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament of the NBA; Forever7 Entertainment which successfully sold two African movies to NETFLIX; and Moove, an African born, global mobility fintech company which was recently backed by Uber.
* Read How we made it in Africa’s interview with Silverbacks chairman Ibrahim Sagna: The case for investing in African sports – investor interview
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