Washington — James Harmon, who served from 1997 until 2001 as chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), has been elected to chair the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA). CCA is a nonprofit grouping of nearly 200 American businesses dedicated to promoting trade and investment ties between the United States and Africa. CCA's members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. Harmon's election took place during a meeting of the CCA Board of Directors on January 17.
Commenting on his election, Harmon said, "Africa needs more than ever the public and private sectors of the world's wealthiest nations who, in turn, need more than ever a stable and prosperous Africa. This is one area where I believe CCA can make a real difference."
Under Harmon's leadership, Ex-Im Bank business in Africa rose from $50 million in 1998 to nearly $1 billion in 2000. In July 2000, Ex-Im Bank launched an unprecedented $1 billion lending program to help eligible African countries purchase anti-AIDS drugs from U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers.
CCA President Stephen Hayes described Harmon as having unparalleled experience in international banking and finance, and a genuine deep-seated commitment to the continent. Harmon is chairman and chief executive of New York-based Harmon & Co., an international investment bank founded in 2001 to provide strategic advice to major corporations and governments.
Harmon succeeds Maurice Tempelsman, who had chaired CCA since April 1999 and chose not to seek re-election. Tempelsman remains on the Board of Directors as chairman emeritus. A complete list of CCA's Board of Directors Executive Committee is attached.
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Before entering government in 1997, Harmon served from 1986 to 1996 as chairman and CEO of Schroder Wertheim & Co., a global investment banking firm. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Africare and the World Resources Institute and trustee emeritus of Brown University and Barnard College. He is a former member of the Advisory Committee on International Capital Markets and the Nominating Committee of the Board of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Securities Industry Association.
Corporate Council on Africa Board of Directors Executive Committee 2002:
Mr. James Harmon Mr. Ken Evans Chairman At-Large Harmon & Co. ExxonMobil
Mr. Frank Fountain Ms. Sharon Pratt Vice Chairman At-Large DaimlerChrysler A.G. @theCentre, Inc.
Mr. Donald McHenry Mr. Jack Edlow Vice Chairman At-Large The IRC Group LLC ERL
Mr. James Andrews Mr. Maurice Tempelsman Secretary Chairman Emeritus Halliburton Lazare Kaplan International Inc.
Mr. Larry Bailey Mr. Stephen Hayes Treasurer President PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Council on Africa
Ms. Anita L. Henri Legal Counsel Corporate Council on Africa
