Dr. James Mwangi the Equity Bank Group MD has been appointed by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) as a member of its Global Board of Advisors. The CFR is an American think tank specializing in US Foreign Policy and International Relations.
Founded in 1921, CFR is an independent and nonpartisan thought leader, based in New York City and Washington, DC. Its membership includes senior politicians, secretaries of state, CIA directors, bankers, lawyers, professors, corporate directors, CEOs, and prominent media figures.
Now in its twelfth year, the Global Board of Advisors strengthens CFR’s understanding of international perspectives while enhancing the dialogue between US leaders in international affairs and their counterparts from other countries. CFR meetings convene government officials, global business leaders, and prominent members of the intelligence and foreign-policy communities to discuss international issues. CFR is also the publisher of the prestigious bi-monthly journal Foreign Affairs since 1922 and publishes research on foreign policy issues.
“I am honored to have been asked to join the Council on Foreign Relations Global Board of Advisors and am grateful for the chance to bring a positive African narrative to the discussions,” said Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr. James Mwangi. “The chance to explain Africa’s contributions to the world now and for decades to come as the continent takes its place on the global stage will mean greater productive collaborations for countries around the world to sustainably partner with the people of Africa,” he added.
The Global Board of Advisors (GBA) consists of prominent individuals, including business leaders, noted academics, and former government officials from developed and emerging-market countries. The prestigious group provides CFR with insight about their regions and offers a mechanism for members of the GBA to join discussions on international relations and the U.S. role in the world.
Dr. James Mwangi is among 33 members of the Global Board of Advisors which include David M. Rubenstein, Co-founder and Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations (US); Michael Froman, President of the Council on Foreign Relations (US); Henadi Al Saleh, Chairperson, Agility (Kuwait); Oliver Bate, CEO and Chairman, Allianz SE (Germany); Julie Bishop, Chancellor, Australian National University (Australia); James Brocklebank, Managing Partner, Advent International (UK); David Cameron, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK); Anatoly Chugays, Former CEO, Rusnano (Russia); Aliko Dangote, President and CEO, Dangote Group (Nigeria); Claudio Descalzi, CEO, ENI (Italy); Paul G. Desmarais Jr., Chairman, Power Corporation of Canada (Canada); Andre Esteves, Chairman and Senior Partner, BTG Pactual (Brazil); Jose Antonio Fernandez Carbajal, Executive Chairman of the Board, FEMSA (Mexico); Christoph Heusgen, Former Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN, Chairman, Munich Security Conference (Germany); Fred Hu, Founder and Chairman, Primavera Capital Group (China); Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chairman, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, (Sudan); Ali Y. Koc, Vice Chairman, Koc Holdings AS (Turkey); Frank Lowy, Chairman of the Board, Lowy Institute (Australia); Andronico Luksic Craig, Chairman, Quinenco SA (Chile); Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises (India); Takeshi Niinami, President and CEO, Suntory Holdings Limited (Japan); Lubna Olayan, Chair Executive Committee and Deputy Chair, Olayan Financing Company (Saudi Arabia); Gbenga Oyebode, Cofounder and Of Counsel, Aluko and Oyebode (Nigeria); Victor Pinchuk, Founder, EastOne Group (Ukraine); Carlos Rodriguez-Pastor, Founder and Chairman, Intercorp, and Founder and Managing Partners, Nexus Group (Peru); Suzan Sabanca, Chairman, Akbank (Turkey); John Sawers, Former Chief, Secret Intelligence Service MI6, Executive Chairman, Newbridge Advisory (UK); Javier Solana, President, EsadeGeo-Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics (Spain); Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and CEO, OCP Group (Morocco); Tidjane Thiam, Founder, Freedom Acquisition I Corporation (France and Ivory Coast); Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Former Prime Minister, Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark); Patrick Walujo, Cofounder and Co-Managing Partner, Northstar Group (Indonesia).
The Council on Foreign Relations Africa Program produces `Africa in Transition’, a blog that focuses on African political and security issues. The program hosts three roundtable series: “Africa Strategic Opportunities,” “Political Transitions in Africa,” and “U.S. Strategic African Partners.” The program’s senior fellows regularly lecture students, brief those in government, business, civil society, and the media, and publish op-eds, articles, and books related to Africa.