Philippe de Pontet leads Eurasia Group's Africa practice. His focus is on frontier markets across the continent, with a particular emphasis on West Africa. He also leads the firm's coverage on Nigeria, building on extensive experience in the country and surrounding region stretching back over a decade. Other countries in his portfolio include Ghana, Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sudans. Philippe's sectoral expertise centers on the politics of the extractive industries, particularly oil/gas and mining. He has spearheaded multiple projects and comparative reports for companies assessing medium and long term risks in target countries. He and his colleagues in the sub-Saharan Africa practice group have devised methodologies to help investors weigh and compare political risks between peer countries. A newly-launched African Frontiers Monthly report builds on these capabilities to help clients navigate risks and opportunities in a region where deep analysis, or even credible data, remains scarce. 

Prior to joining Eurasia Group, Philippe worked at Intellibridge Corporation, focusing on open-source intelligence for government and private-sector clients with diverse interests in Africa. He also worked at Leucadia International as Latin America and Africa frontier markets analyst where he devised market entry strategies and supported government relations initiatives. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he taught at universities in Mexico and China. In addition to investment risk analysis, Philippe also has a background in development, foreign assistance, and donor relations in Africa. 

Philippe holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University as well a BA from Princeton University. Philippe is proficient in French and Spanish, and can read Portuguese.