African Collaborations Group (ACG) has appointed Paulo J. Cruz as its Founding Chief Executive Officer. The origination and collaboration platform focuses on building bankable sports and entertainment district ecosystems across Africa.

Mr Cruz joins the company following his tenure as Senior Vice President at DAMAC Group between 2022 and 2026, where the property developer reported close to USD 10 billion in property sales in 2025. Before his time at DAMAC Group, he worked as Group Chief Executive Officer of LandAfrique, managing infrastructure, power, housing and industrial park developments across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Across a 28-year career, Mr Cruz has structured and originated projects valued from USD 50 million to over USD 5 billion. His professional background includes senior executive positions at BP, BlackIvy Group, Mota-Engil and Cushman & Wakefield.

In his new role, Mr Cruz will lead the expansion of ACG’s pan-African platform, working alongside sovereign governments, development finance institutions, private investors and sports entities to structure large-scale district projects. The platform transforms development concepts into investable district ecosystems capable of attracting institutional capital.

The organisation’s flagship model, Victory District™, provides a framework for multi-use sports and leisure developments. The approach focuses on asset usage, long-term sustainability, employment creation and revenue diversification beyond matchday sales.

Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG, said: “Paulo brings an exceptional combination of origination expertise, institutional credibility, and continental experience that is virtually unparalleled in this space. His demonstrated ability to transform ambitious development concepts into financially structured, bankable projects positions him as the ideal leader to guide ACG as we build a platform capable of catalysing transformative investment and accelerating the realisation of financially sustainable sport and entertainment districts across Africa.”

The appointment follows the setup 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 Managing Director Jan Alessie.

Paulo J. Cruz, Founding Chief Executive Officer of African Collaborations Group, said: “Infrastructure is the prerequisite for the industrialisation of sport in Africa — without it, the entire value chain remains theoretical. Athletes need places to train, compete and develop. Sport governing bodies need venues that meet international standards. Broadcasters, sponsors and event organisers need facilities capable of generating commercial value. Every revenue stream in the sport economy ultimately depends on infrastructure existing and its respective operation. But how that infrastructure is originated determines whether it becomes an economic engine or a fiscal burden. Across Africa, too many sport facilities have been built in isolation — a stadium delivered for a single event, then left to deteriorate at a fraction of its capacity, draining public finances rather than generating returns. ACG exists to change that equation.”