The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday 27 December 2023, that Clare Akamanzi will be the new CEO of NBA Africa. The accomplished business executive and international trade and investment lawyer will start in her new position on 23 January, 2024.
Akamanzi’s appointment takes basketball to new heights on the African continent as the game has made strides over the past few years. The Rwandan has an impressive CV, since 2017 she has served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) which is tasked with accelerating economic growth in the country. Her experience will come in handy as Akamanzi looks to take the sport to new heights in Africa, and ensuring its commercially viable.
She also played an integral part in pioneering the ‘Visit Rwanda’ campaign with international sports teams including Premier League side Arsenal and German soccer giants Bayern Munich, and the NBA. Akamanzi has also worked in Rwanda’s government, holding the national position of Head of Strategy and Policy.
“Clare’s business acumen, international experience and familiarity with basketball and the NBA make her the ideal executive to lead our business in Africa,” said NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum.
“NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League are well-positioned for continued growth, and under Clare’s leadership we believe these initiatives will transform economies, communities and lives across the continent,” he added.
Akamanzi says she is looking forward to joining the organisation and using basketball as a tool to positively impact various sectors.
“I’ve seen firsthand how sports can positively impact businesses, families and communities in Africa, and the NBA and the BAL are a perfect example of that,” said Akamanzi. “The NBA has done an incredible job growing basketball and the economy around it across the continent, and I’m excited about the enormous opportunities ahead to build on that momentum.”
The mother of two is also very accomplished when it comes to tertiary education, as she holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University in the USA, a Master of Laws in Trade and Investment Law (Pretoria, South Africa), and a Bachelor of Law (Makerere, Uganda).
Her wealth of knowledge and experience only bodes well for basketball on the continent and given her track record she is set to improve the game in many ways. Akamanzi will report to NBA deputy commissioner Tatum when she takes over from Victor Williams, whose tenure as CEO of NBA Africa comes to an end on 31 December 2023.
Photo caption: The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday 27 December 2023 that Clare Akamanzi will be the new CEO of NBA Africa. The accomplished business executive and international trade and investment lawyer will start in her new position on 23 January 2024. Photo: NBA Africa on X
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