Rwanda’s Clare Akamanzi to Head NBA Africa

Rwandan international trade and investment lawyer, Clare Akamanzi, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa.

NBA said Akamanzi, who previously served as Rwanda Development Board chief, will start her position on January 23, 2024, and report to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.

“In this role, Akamanzi will oversee the NBA’s business and basketball development efforts in Africa and will be responsible for continuing to grow the popularity of basketball, the NBA and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) across the continent, including through grassroots basketball development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, and social responsibility initiatives that improve the livelihoods of African youth and families,” said NBA in a statement on Wednesday night.

For the last six and a half years, Akamanzi was CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), where she spearheaded Rwanda’s economic development by enabling private sector growth. 

Under Akamanzi’s leadership, RDB implemented several business policy reforms and initiatives that led to significant investment and development for the country, including through partnerships with the BAL, Arsenal FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Bayern Munich and TIME Magazine, among others. 

“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 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.”

On her part, Akamanzi said she had “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. 

She added: “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.” 

Nearly 600 million people across the globe play basketball annually and basketball is the second most popular sport in the world.

Previously, Akamanzi was Chief Operating Officer of RDB and Head of Strategy and Policy Unit, Office of the President of the Republic of Rwanda. 

She has extensive international trade, business and diplomatic experience, having previously worked for the Rwandan Government at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland and at the Rwandan Embassy in London, England. 

Akamanzi has worked or studied in seven different countries and holds an honorary LLD from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, in recognition of her work in Rwanda.