The National Basketball Association (NBA) has appointed Clare Akamanzi as the new chief executive of NBA Africa.
Akamanzi is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and a distinguished business executive and international trade and investment lawyer.
She brings two decades of experience in economic development, private sector growth, business environment reforms, and FDI promotion to her new role.
Having served as the CEO of RDB until September of this year, Akamanzi is set to commence her duties with NBA Africa on January 23, 2024, according to an announcement from the organization.
Her extensive expertise spans various domains, including trade and investment policy, business law and strategy, and economic development policy.
During her tenure as CEO of RDB, Akamanzi played a crucial role in elevating Rwanda’s tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sectors.
She is credited with championing the Visit Rwanda brand and fostering trade and investment. As a member of several boards both in Rwanda and globally, Akamanzi’s leadership has left a lasting impact on economic development initiatives.
Notably, Akamanzi is a renowned sports enthusiast and a strong advocate for sports development. Her influence was pivotal in Rwanda hosting the inaugural Basketball Africa League (The BAL) and engaging with esteemed sports clubs like Arsenal, Paris Saint Germain (PSG), and Bayern Munich.
Additionally, her involvement contributed to the Giants of Africa participating in Rwanda, marking significant achievements in sports diplomacy.
Despite her impressive professional accomplishments, Akamanzi’s passion for sports is highlighted by her role as an ardent Arsenal fan.
Akamanzi will replace Victor Williams, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., as CEO of the NBA’s initiative on the African continent, which is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The appointment makes her the first female to hold this position.
She will be expected to spearhead NBA Africa’s operations in Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos, and recently opened offices in Nairobi (adding a 5th office to a network).
She will be tasked to bring even more investment to the African multinational enterprise with over $ 1 billion in investments.
She will also lead efforts to shape talent through grassroots basketball and strengthen networks in major cities of the continent.
