Suprotik Basu, MHS ’02

Suprotik Basu, MHS ’02, serves as managing partner of Helena Special Investments, a problem-solving institution that addresses urgent societal issues through for-profit, non-profit, and legislative action. Past Helena projects have focused on issues such as mobilizing a private-sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing innovations in global democracy, passing legislation to protect electrical grids from cyberattack and natural disaster, and supporting the launch of the world's first direct-air carbon capture facility. 

Basu was previously partner and founder at Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital, a mezzanine credit/subordinated debt-focused impact fund—where he originated and led transactions, was head of Sustainable Impact, served on the Investment Committee, and chaired the Sustainability and ESG Committee. Basu exited Blue Orange coinciding with the sale of a minority interest to AXA. 

Prior to his work in private finance, Basu was CEO for the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Health Financing. 

During his tenure as CEO, and prior to that as its managing director, Basu led the group’s efforts over a decade to mobilize and deploy over $3.5 billion of resources to end deaths from malaria in Africa, and to improve child and maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. 

Through the distribution of over 2 billion mosquito nets and hundreds of millions of medications, this unprecedented public-private partnership saved the lives of over 7 million children from malaria in one of the largest public health efforts in history. 

Basu also oversaw the formation of the End Malaria Council, co-chaired by Ray Chambers, Bill Gates, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and which laid out a roadmap to eradicate malaria worldwide. He previously held positions at the World Bank and World Health Organization, working in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. 

He is a board member of multiple Helena portfolio companies, and also a board member of several non-profits, including Big Win Philanthropy and the social justice non-profit founded by the late Dr Paul Farmer, Partners in Health. 

Basu holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the Bloomberg School, where he currently chairs the Advisory Board.