#USA #Washington #Opportunity Finance #CDFI #Khalid Sarwary

Opportunities for Growth: OFN's New Management Structure

The Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) has recently announced the establishment of a new Portfolio Management department within its Investment Services division. This strategic move aims to further strengthen its support for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as the organization navigates new growth avenues.

Strategic Realignment for Growth

In his statement, Jessel Amin, OFN's Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, emphasized their commitment to evolving their operational strategies over the last five years, which has seen unprecedented portfolio growth. With a substantial 77% increase in investments in new members and total investments nearly doubling, the establishment of this department signifies OFN's proactive approach to better manage its growing responsibilities.

The decision to delineate origination from portfolio management reflects a commitment to operational excellence, allowing the team to harness insights from enhanced data collection and analysis. This strategic separation will bolster their credit risk management, expand market presence, and ultimately deliver greater value to both borrowers and investors.

Key Promotions to Propel Growth

As part of this reorganization, OFN has made several key promotions:

• - Khalid Sarwary has assumed the role of Senior Vice President for Credit Risk and Portfolio Management. With over 15 years of experience in financial risk and portfolio management, Khalid previously played integral roles at several financial institutions, bringing invaluable expertise to his new position. His focus will be on implementing robust credit policies aligned with OFN's overarching financial, impact, and programmatic goals.

• - Lisa Wright has been elevated to Senior Vice President, overseeing Investment Originations. She brings a wealth of experience, having developed innovative lending strategies that have successfully increased OFN's managed investments to over $500 million across a network of more than 325 investments since her joining in 2018. Lisa’s diverse background enables her to effectively drive the organization’s investment origination and business development initiatives.

• - Shakeyda (Keys) Daniel has also stepped into the role of Senior Vice President, overseeing the Bond Guarantee Program and Investment Operations. With a strong track record since joining the organization in 2014, Keys has significantly expanded OFN's investment operations, making critical contributions to capital origination and aiding in the management of substantial funding initiatives totaling $855 million through the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.

Impact and Future Directions

The restructuring and appointments within OFN's Investment Services team underpin the organization's aspiration to elevate its impact and serve CDFIs more effectively. With strategic focus areas that target product development and capital solutions, OFN is poised to ensure that communities often overlooked by traditional finance have greater access to necessary support and growth opportunities.

Opportunity Finance Network operates with a mission to engage private, public, and philanthropic sectors in fostering growth in underrepresented communities, focusing on urban, rural, and Native communities across the United States. With over $1 billion in managed assets and a membership of over 475 CDFIs, OFN has a significant track record, having facilitated over $124 billion in financing, showcasing its commitment to creating jobs, businesses, and community facilities.

Looking ahead, OFN is dedicated to cultivating new investment strategies that not only promote financial growth among its members but also further empower the communities they serve, thereby reinforcing the essential role of community-focused finance in creating sustainable economic opportunities.