Executive Profile: O.D. Kobo

O.D. Kobo is an alternative asset manager with over two decades of experience in capital deployment, structured finance, and cross-border investment, with a focus on technology, energy, and infrastructure.

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Born and raised in Hong Kong, educated in London, he has led investment strategy, syndication, and governance across transactions involving sovereign wealth funds, state-owned enterprises, institutional investors, and private capital groups throughout Asia, Europe, Russia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. His work involves structuring across complex legal and political jurisdictions in collaboration with state and corporate stakeholders.

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From 2003 to 2010, he directed the Qatar Investment Authority’s technology investments in China during a period of significant Gulf-to-Asia capital allocation, reporting to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, then Prime Minister of Qatar and Chairman of the Authority. From 2007 to 2018, he served as Partner and Co-Founder of PIR Equities, a UK-based private equity firm focused on private market strategies. Notable transactions during this period included large-scale energy infrastructure projects linking Africa, Russia, and the Gulf (2008–2014); technology ventures in the Middle East in partnership with Roman Abramovich of Millhouse Capital (2012–2015), the $680 million sale of Camden Market Holdings to Teddy Sagi of Globe Invest (2014), and one of the UK’s first institutional allocations to digital assets (£50 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum, 2017–2018).

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Between 2020 and 2023, Mr. Kobo co-led the structuring and syndication of a data and infrastructure platform in North Africa in partnership with PRC state-owned enterprises and regional ministries. Earlier in his career, he co-founded China-based technology firms KGIM and SinoSheen Investments, both later acquired by global technology and telecommunications groups. His private market activity has been cited in leading financial publications.

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In 2023, Mr. Kobo and his family relocated to Miami, Florida, following the acquisition of approximately 550 acres of land on International Drive in Orlando, adjacent to Universal and across from Disney World, for the development of the International Park and Entertainment Horizon, a large-scale civic and entertainment project and the future home of the Sphere (of Las Vegas).

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He studied Business at Regent’s Business School London and Finance at the London School of Economics.