By Dipo Olowookere
The Director of Finance Operations at the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Treasury in Cameroon, Professor Kelly Mua Kingsley, has been elected as the new chairman of the board of African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), commonly known as the African Trade Insurance Agency.
He was elected to the position at the 101st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the agency on October 5, 2024, succeeding Yohannes Ayalew Birru, who served for two consecutive terms of three years.
Prof Kelly’s election as the first Cameroonian board chair has a significant impact on fostering relationships and networks within the CEMAC and the broader West African region. His role is set to facilitate collaboration among member states, enhance trade relations and promote regional integration.
Accepting his appointment, he said his vision is to support best corporate governance practices within the organisation and drive economic growth that benefits the continent by working closely with ATIDI’s leadership.
“I aim to expand ATIDI’s outreach and visibility across Africa. I encourage all the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) countries to consider applying for membership in ATIDI, as this will further strengthen regional cooperation and open new avenues for economic collaboration,” Prof. Kelly said.
“I take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the outgoing Board Chairman and his team for their outstanding leadership in bringing ATIDI to such a level of performance,” he added.
Business Post learned that he will be deputized by Ms Christina Westholm-Schröder, who is Sovereign’s Chief Underwriter and Senior Vice President.
She has more than 35 years of experience in the political risk insurance industry and is responsible for all aspects of Sovereign’s transactional underwriting and also leads Sovereign’s successful cooperation with multilateral and export credit agencies.
“With the board’s diverse expertise, we expect that we will drive impactful initiatives that foster sustainable trade and investment across Africa.
“This new leadership team will further enhance our outreach efforts and engage our stakeholders more effectively, creating a stronger and more connected community.
“Together, we are poised to make a significant difference in the economic landscape of the continent,” the chief executive of ATIDI, Mr Manuel Moses, said.
Under the previous board, ATIDI’s member states increased from 14 to 24, with the gross exposure rising from $4.8 million to $9.6 billion, profits from $12 million to $69.1 million and assets from $419 million to $837 million.
The current members of the group are Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Senegal, Togo, Madagascar, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Angola.