The National Basketball Association (NBA) has appointed Clare Akamanzi, an international trade and investment lawyer from Rwanda, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its African business sector. This historic move makes her the first woman and African to hold such a prominent position within the NBA.
Scheduled to assume her role in January 2024, Akamanzi will succeed Victor Williams, an American former Goldman Sachs investment banker who resigned from the NBA in 2020 after overseeing its expansion efforts across Africa.
Presently, the NBA operates offices in Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, and Kenya, with the latest addition being Kenya.
Previously serving as the head of Rwanda’s influential Rwanda Development Board (RDB) from 2017 until September 2023, Akamanzi’s tenure elevated her to a cabinet member.
In her new capacity as NBA Africa CEO, Akamanzi will supervise the organization’s business and basketball development initiatives throughout the continent. The NBA highlighted her crucial role in advancing the popularity of basketball, the NBA, and the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Mark Tatum, the NBA’s chief operating officer, expressed confidence in Akamanzi’s leadership abilities, citing her potential to foster positive change through basketball initiatives across African economies and communities.
“Clare’s business acumen, international experience, and familiarity with basketball and the NBA make her the perfect leader for our operations in Africa,” stated Tatum.
Akamanzi recognized the potential of sports to influence businesses and communities, emphasizing the NBA and BAL as exemplary models of positive impact through sports in Africa.
While predominantly involved in the public sector and diplomacy, including roles at the World Trade Organisation and Rwanda’s presidential office, Akamanzi actively engaged in sports partnerships during her tenure at the RDB. These collaborations aimed to enhance investment and development in Rwanda through alliances with sports entities such as the NBA, BAL, and European football clubs like Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich.
