The Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (NBA) on Wednesday, December 27, appointed Rwanda’s Clare Akamanzi because the Chief Government Officer of NBA Africa.
Akamanzi, a former cupboard member, will assume workplace on January 23, 2024, and might be reporting to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Working Officer Mark Tatum.
On this function, she is going to oversee the NBA’s enterprise and basketball improvement efforts in Africa and might be accountable for persevering with to develop the recognition of the game, the NBA and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) throughout the continent, together with via grassroots basketball improvement, media distribution, company partnerships, and social duty initiatives that enhance the livelihoods of African youth and households.
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An achieved enterprise government and worldwide commerce and funding lawyer, Akamanzi has most not too long ago served because the CEO of Rwanda Improvement Board (RDB) between 2017 and September 2023 the place she spearheaded Rwanda’s financial improvement by enabling personal sector progress.
Below her management, RDB carried out a number of enterprise coverage reforms and initiatives that led to vital funding and improvement for the nation, together with via partnerships with the BAL, Arsenal FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Bayern Munich and TIME Journal, amongst others.
“Clare’s enterprise acumen, worldwide expertise and familiarity with basketball and the NBA make her the best government to guide our enterprise in Africa,” stated Tatum. “NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League are well-positioned for continued progress, and below Clare’s management we consider these initiatives will rework economies, communities and lives throughout the continent.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how sports activities can positively impression companies, households and communities in Africa, and the NBA and the BAL are an ideal instance of that,” stated Akamanzi.
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“The NBA has accomplished an unbelievable job rising basketball and the financial system round it throughout the continent, and I am excited concerning the huge alternatives forward to construct on that momentum.”
Beforehand, Akamanzi was Chief Working Officer of RDB and Head of Technique and Coverage Unit, Workplace of the President of the Republic of Rwanda. She has intensive worldwide commerce, enterprise and diplomatic expertise, having beforehand labored for the Rwandan Authorities on the World Commerce Group in Geneva, Switzerland and on the Rwandan Embassy in London, England.
Akamanzi has labored or studied in seven totally different international locations and holds an honorary LLD from Concordia College in Montreal, Canada, in recognition of her work in Rwanda.
She earned a grasp’s diploma in public administration from Harvard College’s Kennedy College of Authorities in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the place she was the recipient of three prestigious awards for tutorial excellence and distinguished contribution to the neighborhood: the Lucius N. Littauer Fellows Award, the Raymond & Josephine Vernon Award and the Robert Kennedy Public Service Award.
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As well as, she holds a Grasp of Legal guidelines diploma in worldwide commerce and investments from the College of Pretoria in South Africa, and a Bachelor of Legal guidelines diploma from Makerere College in Kampala, Uganda.
Akamanzi has served on a number of firm boards, together with the World Well being Group (WHO) Basis, ECOBANK and Aviation, Journey and Logistics (ATL) firm. She was acknowledged by Forbes as one in every of Africa’s High 50 Highly effective Ladies in 2020.
