Walter Kansteiner
Founding Principal of The Scowcroft Group

Walter is a founding Principal of The Scowcroft Group, and has over twenty years experience with African and emerging market business issues. Mr. Kansteiner has advised corporations on a wide range of mergers, acquisitions, and privatizations throughout Africa. Transactions that he has been involved with include telecommunications, forestry, mining, financial services, healthcare, and aviation services. Mr. Kansteiner advised on the privatization of Telkom South Africa, to date the largest privatization in Africa.

Mr. Kansteiner rejoined the firm after serving three years as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. In this capacity, he was responsible for US foreign policy in Africa. He was also the President’s personal representative to the G8 Africa Process. Prior to his initial affiliation with The Scowcroft Group, Mr. Kansteiner was Executive Vice President of a commodity trading and processing company, which specialized in tropical commodities (coffee, cocoa, and sugar). In addition to his business experience in emerging markets, Mr. Kansteiner served in the U.S. government as the Director of African Affairs on the National Security Council staff. He also served as the Africa specialist on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, and with the Department of Defense as a member of the strategic minerals task force. He holds graduate degrees in international economics and ethics from American University and Virginia Theological Seminary, respectively. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Commissioner on the President's foreign aid commission (HELP), and serves on various boards in the U.S. and Africa.

Mr. Kansteiner’s current board directorships include SPESCOM (JSE listed), Titanium Resource Group (London listed), Moto Gold (Toronto and London listed), First Africa (private), and Scowcroft Group (private).  His non-profit directorships include African Wildlife Foundation, African Parks Foundation, Leakey Foundation, Good Governance Africa, and Corporate Council on Africa.