Dr. Mima Nedelcovych Named President & CEO of the Initiative for Global Development

WASHINGTON - April 23, 2014 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, D.C, April 23, 2014 – The Initiative for Global Development (IGD) today named Dr. Mima Nedelcovych as its new President & CEO, effective June 15, 2014. IGD, a nonprofit organization, engages a global network of corporate leaders to reduce poverty through investment in the developing world, with a particular focus on Africa.

“After an extensive search, the IGD board is enormously pleased that Dr. Mima Nedelcovych will join IGD and help take the organization to the next level. His extraordinary business experience, combined with his commitment to encouraging business-driven development and passion for fighting poverty in Africa, make him a perfect fit for the role.” said IGD Board Chairman, Robert A. Mosbacher, Jr.

Dr. Mima Nedelcovych is a recognized leader in business development in Africa. From 1989 - 1993, Nedelcovych served as the U.S Executive Director to the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Cote d’Ivoire, where he was instrumental in formulating the private sector initiative at the AfDB, which included the formation of the African Business Roundtable and the African Export-Import Bank. He is also a Founder and past Board Member of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA).

“I’ve spent much of my career helping foster trade facilitation and public private partnerships in Africa because I believe so strongly in the transformative power of private sector initiatives and private investments for Africa’s growth and development,” said Nedelcovych. “IGD is built upon this principle. I’m honored to have the opportunity to help lead IGD’s innovative staff in their groundbreaking work to engage corporate leaders worldwide in reducing global poverty through strategic, successful business investments in Africa.”

Most recently, Nedelcovych served as Chairman of Schaffer International, a firm focused on agro-industrial and renewable energy projects in the emerging markets of Africa and the Americas. He has also established a consulting career with extensive experience in trade and investment facilitation, project development and finance, and public-private partnerships in Africa.

“Dr. Mima Nedelcovych is the quintessential blend of all IGD’s impactful works. Recommended by our Frontier Leaders and Board members, he is a perfect individual to lead IGD into the future” said Lisa Nelson, IGD’s Interim President & CEO. “IGD has gone through an important transformation over the past months. With Nedelcovych’s experience and connections, as well as commitment to and enthusiasm for Africa’s future, I am confident he will build upon our great work and the broad-minded business leaders who have joined us in these efforts to create lasting, positive change through business participation in global economic development.”

In addition to his experience with AfDB and Schaffer International, Nedelcovych has worked with clients such as Carana Corporation and Abt Associates to identify and advise investment opportunities in Africa, as well as with corporate clients such as International Green Structures, Illovo Sugar and JML Investments, to develop specific investments. Earlier in his career, he served as Peace Corps Country Director in Gabon, and various positions at USAID and US Trade and Development Agency.

Dr. Mima Nedelcovych will join IGD leadership and Frontier Leaders at the upcoming IGD’s 10th Frontier 100 Forum in Abuja, Nigeria on May 5-6.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

The Initiative for Global Development (IGD) is a 501(c)(3) organization that drives significant poverty reduction by catalyzing business growth and investment in the developing world. IGD brings together an influential Frontier Leader network of CEOs and senior executives with the interest and capacity to make strategic investments in high-need, high-potential areas of Africa. Learn more: www.igdleaders.org.

For more information, please contact Thuy Dinh at 202.454.3960 or tdinh@igdleaders.org.