Preston Mendenhall

Preston provides operational and strategic leadership across Rendeavour’s new cities in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and DRC. Reporting to the Group CEO, his responsibilities are wide-ranging.

Based with his family at Tatu City, Preston manages the 5,000-acre Special Economic Zone in Kenya, as well as Rendeavour’s neighbouring developments of Oaklands and Zuri Springs. Under Preston’s leadership, Tatu City has grown to include more than 100 businesses, 5,000 residents and schools educating 5,000 students daily, along with the creation of 25,000 jobs.

Preston, who has more than 20 years’ experience in emerging markets, joined Rendeavour in 2010, when the company announced Tatu City as its first new city development. In rapid succession, plans for Rendeavour’s six additional cities were put in place. Previously, Preston was Head of Marketing & Public Affairs for Renaissance Group, the Moscow-based emerging markets investment firm. Prior to Renaissance, Preston was Vice President for Strategy at Russian Standard, Russia’s leading global consumer brand with interests in financial services and alcohol beverage production and distribution.

From 1993-2006, Preston was a producer and correspondent for NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC, covering global events in the Soviet successor states, Europe, Central and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A keen linguist, Preston is a graduate of Cornell University and Phillips Exeter Academy.