African Collaborations Group Names Paulo Cruz as Founding CEO

African Collaborations Group (ACG) has appointed Paulo J. Cruz as its founding chief executive officer as the platform seeks to develop investment-ready sport and entertainment projects across Africa.

Cruz joins ACG from DAMAC Group, where he served as senior vice president from 2022 to 2026. DAMAC reported close to 10 billion US dollars in property sales in 2025.

His career spans 28 years across infrastructure development, urbanisation and real estate in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He has originated or structured projects ranging from 50 million US dollars to more than 5 billion US dollars, covering early-stage development, feasibility studies, financial structuring and investor alignment.

Before joining DAMAC, Cruz was group CEO of LandAfrique, a pan-African development platform focused on industrial parks, infrastructure, housing and power projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. His previous roles also include positions at BP, BlackIvy Group, Movares and Cushman & Wakefield.

At ACG, Cruz will lead the expansion of a pan-African project origination platform working with governments, development finance institutions, private investors, sport and entertainment organisations and academic institutions.

The company focuses on developing integrated sport and entertainment districts that can attract institutional investment while generating economic activity beyond individual sporting venues.

Its flagship Victory District framework is designed around mixed-use sport and entertainment developments, with an emphasis on asset utilisation, revenue diversification, employment, youth opportunities, talent development and long-term operations and maintenance.

Cruz’s appointment follows the creation of ACG’s Advisory Board, which includes former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, former FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Kenny Jean-Marie, Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah and World Football Summit co-founder Jan Alessie.

Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, ACG’s founder and executive chairman, said Cruz brought experience in project origination, financial structuring and development across multiple markets.

“Infrastructure is the prerequisite for the industrialisation of sport in Africa — without it, the entire value chain remains theoretical,” Cruz said.

He said ACG would seek to address the challenges created by sports facilities developed as standalone projects, arguing that infrastructure should be structured to support broader commercial activity and generate sustainable returns.

ACG describes itself as a strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on developing bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems across Africa.

Source: FSX Business News