Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio, President and CEO at Rabin Martin, a global health strategy consulting firm, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in April.
"We needed experienced leadership as the organization enters an important period of transition," said CCA President and CEO, Stephen Hayes. "Jeff knows the Corporate Council on Africa very well. He has the confidence of the board, as a person of high integrity and transparency."
Dr. Sturchio spent 20 years as an executive in the pharmaceutical industry, notably as Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Merck & Co., Inc. and President of The Merck Company Foundation. Dr. Sturchio also served as President & CEO of the Global Health Council. A trusted advisor by industry, governments and civil society, Dr. Sturchio has orchestrated numerous multisectoral initiatives that have dramatically advanced health. He is a long-time CCA Board Member and previously served as Chairman in 2008-2009.
Dr. Sturchio succeeds Paul Hinks, Founder and CEO of Symbion Power, one of the most prolific American power sector firms in the generation, transmission and distribution industry, with an established presence throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Hinks, who was elected in 2012, was an active Chairman of the Board who championed a more proactive presence on the continent. Under Mr. Hinks' leadership, African companies became the fastest growing group within CCA's membership.
Dr. Sturchio takes the helm at a dynamic time for the organization. "It's a privilege to chair the CCA Board. Africa is a continent full of possibilities – from the expansion of infrastructure, power and ICT, to the new energy and creativity of a growing middle class. CCA's member companies have an opportunity to collaborate with countries to realize the vision of a stronger, more dynamic Africa. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Board members, Steve Hayes and the capable CCA staff to enhance our work with members in the U.S. and on the Continent to realize those possibilities."
CCA recently acquired the Africa Travel Association (ATA) in January. It also hosted its 10th biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought together more than 1,400 CEOs, business leaders and high-ranking government officials from 49 countries, making it the largest U.S.-led event in Ethiopia.
This year, CCA will take a record number of trade missions to the continent and will host two major conferences. In September, it will host its U.S.-Africa Infrastructure Conference in New Orleans and in November, for the first time under CCA's aegis, ATA will host its 41st Tourism Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. CCA is committed to continue earning its reputation as the leading U.S. business association focused solely on connecting business interests in Africa.
Dr. Sturchio is also the chairman of the BroadReach Institute for Training and Education and a member of the boards of ACHAP, Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS and the Museum of AIDS in Africa. Dr. Sturchio is currently a visiting scholar at the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University; Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; a principal of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network; a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Arthur W. Page Society; and an advisor to amfAR, the Clinton Global Initiative, Intrahealth International and the NCD Alliance.
The Corporate Council on Africa is the leading U.S. business association focused solely on connecting business interests in Africa. Established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the United States and the nations of Africa, the Corporate Council on Africa serves as a neutral, trusted intermediary connecting its member firms with the essential government and business leaders they need to do business and succeed in Africa. The Council's membership represents nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. They represent a diverse pool of industries from Africa's most promising sectors, including agribusiness, energy, finance, health, ICT, infrastructure, security, tourism and trade facilitation.
