The Board and Council of TradeMark Africa (TMA) have today announced that Frank Matsaert, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will step down as TMA’s CEO on 1^st July 2022, after 12 years at the helm of the institution. A search for a new Chief Executive Officer has started. The Board and Frank have planned adequate time for this process to be completed, ensuring the next CEO is recruited and settles well before Frank’s departure.

Frank established TMA in 2010 with a budget of US$60 million and had by close of 2020, mobilised over US$1.1 billion from TMA’s 11 donors for TMA’s successful programme.  Frank has led the organisation since its start in implementing an innovative and impactful aid-for-trade programme across 12 countries in Eastern, the Horn and Southern Africa. Over that time TMA has become a leading aid for trade agency globally.  Under his visionary leadership, the organisation has forged partnerships with partner Governments and trade agencies, Regional Economic Communities especially the EAC, the AFCFTA Secretariat, international trade organisations such as the WTO, multilateral agencies including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Trade Development Bank, the World Customs Organisation, UNCTAD and ITC, and the private sector

The organisation aims to further expand its operations to support implementation of the AFCFTA over the coming years with its unique blend of trade facilitation partnerships supported by strong funding support from its growing donor base, commercial partners, and international foundations. Additionally, the organisation has secured a new funding envelope for West and Southern Africa to support implementation of the AFCFTA agreement and is in the process of potentially establishing a commercial entity to further support TMA’s work on growing prosperity through trade.

Frank has overseen a young start up become a vibrant pan African organisation which has achieved remarkable results with its partners: contributing to a 30% reduction in trade costs across the region, 50% improvements in port turnaround times, and on average a 70% decline in time to cross 15 key borders in the region.  He championed the automation of key Government trade processes across the region, leading to large reductions in transaction time and costs. This has been a massive achievement that has created positive impact for millions of East Africans.

The Board and Council of TMA wishes to sincerely thank Frank for his dedicated and visionary service not only to the organisation but to the wider Eastern Africa region, delivering high impact programmes that have contributed to transformation change and trade growth in the region.

An update of the appointment of the new CEO will be made in due course.

The Board and Council of TradeMark Africa

Media Contacts
Nelson Karanja

Communications Director
nelson.karanja@trademarkea.com
+254731500596

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.