News

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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