Washington, DC – The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) announced the membership of its 2024-2025 Advisory and Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committees yesterday in an open meeting. The EXIM Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the membership of both mandated committees. Peter Harrell, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Economics and Competitiveness will serve as Chair of EXIM’s Advisory Committee and Jude Kearney, Managing Partner at ASAFO & Co. law firm, will service as Chair of the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee.
“EXIM’s Advisory Committee is a crucial part of EXIM’s ongoing success,” said EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis. “I am pleased to welcome our new Advisory Committee members as they join us to advance the EXIM mission and continue to support Bank and Biden-Harris Administration priorities.”
The Advisory Committee provides guidance to EXIM on its policies and programs as it fulfills its mission to provide competitive financing to support American jobs through exports. The committee includes 17 representatives from a variety of backgrounds ranging from agriculture, environment, production, and commerce to finance, labor services and the textile industry. The committee meets quarterly and is mandated by Congress under EXIM’s charter. The chair and members of the committee are appointed to one-year terms.
"I'm excited to support EXIM in its vital work strengthening American manufacturing, creating high-wage jobs through exports, and making sure the U.S wins our economic competition with China,” said incoming Advisory Committee Chair Peter Harrell. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Advisory Committee, Chair Reta Jo Lewis, and the entire EXIM team to continue strengthening this great institution for the years to come."
“The extension of EXIM’s reach across the sub-Saharan Africa region could not be achieved without the efforts of the Sub-Saharan African Advisory Committee,” said Chair Lewis. “This work is of the utmost importance, and I am thrilled to have the expertise of this group at our disposal. I am particularly happy to have the continued support of Jude Kearney as he returns as Chair of the committee and look forward to building upon the Bank’s momentum as we work to fulfill our congressional mandate.”
Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee members advise EXIM on the development and implementation of policies and programs designed to support EXIM’s engagement in sub-Saharan Africa and boost U.S. exports and American jobs. The committee is comprised of 11 members with representation from a variety of fields including trade, commerce, banking, finance and small business. The committee meets semi-annually and is mandated by Congress under EXIM’s charter. The chair and members are appointed to one-year terms.
“I am pleased that EXIM has extended my appointment as Chair of the Bank's Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee,” said Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee Chair Jude Kearney. “Between the highly experienced and dedicated leaders and specialists at the Bank who lead its Africa initiatives and the amazing SAAC members who devote their time and deep Africa experience to this endeavor, we will expand the Bank's reach – and that of its exporter customers – into the many viable trade opportunities Africa provides. There is no more important component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s trade policy than a dedicated commitment to partner with the African continent in support of our various exporting industries and in support of our overall economy.”
Members of the EXIM 2024-2025 Advisory Committee:
Chair:
Peter Harrell
Nonresident Fellow, American Statecraft Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Economics and Competitiveness
White House National Security Council and National Economic Council
Members:
Hon. Kevin Anderson
Secretary
Maryland Department of Commerce
Mark Campbell
President
Bechtel Enterprises
Mike Espy
President
Mike Espy PLLC
Stacy J. Ettinger
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Trade
Solar Energy Industries Association
Jonathan Fantini Porter
CEO and Executive Director
Partnership for Central America
Alonzo Fulgham
Executive Vice President
VIATEQ
Hon. Denny Heck
Lieutenant Governor
State of Washington
Roy Houseman
Legislative Director
United Steelworkers
Chris James
President and CEO
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
Christine Kamil
Managing Director
JP Morgan Chase
Maria Korsnick
President and CEO
Nuclear Energy Institute
James W. McKinnon
CEO
Cotswold Industries Inc.
Julie Monaco
Managing Director, Global Head Public Sector
Citi
Lisa-Marie Monsanto
Partner
Rimon, P.C.
Dr. Joshua Walker
President & CEO
Japan Society
David White
Director of Strategic Resources
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Members of the EXIM 2024-2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee:
Chair:
Jude Kearney
Managing Partner
ASAFO & Co
Members:
David Adefeso
CEO/Founder
The Pacific Group/Sootchy Inc
Faheen Allibhoy
Managing Director and Head of J.P. Morgan Development Finance Institution
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Florie Liser
President & CEO
Corporate Council on Africa
Toyosi Kolawwole
CEO
Audeo Group
Stephen Ozoigbo
Head of Government Partnerships and Ecosystems
Arm
Amb. Robin Sanders
CEO
FEEEDS&FE3DS, LLC
Amb. Harry Thomas, Jr.
Senior Fellow
Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs
Rev. Matthew Watley
CEO
Black Idea Coalition
Chair
Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation
Wellington Webb
President and Founder
Webb Group International
Former Mayor
Denver, CO
Malik Yoba
Founder and CEO
Yoba Development
About EXIM:
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation’s official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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