The National Basketball Association (NBA), on Wednesday appointed Rwanda's Clare Akamanzi as the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Africa, with the top investment lawyer to oversee the sport and its business on the continent.

Rwandan Clare Akamanzi Steers NBA Africa Growth

Last updated Dec 27, 2023

The National Basketball Association (NBA), on Wednesday appointed Rwanda’s Clare Akamanzi as the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Africa, with the top investment lawyer to oversee the sport and its business on the continent.

Akamanzi will be responsible for continuing to grow the popularity of the sport, the NBA and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) across the continent through grassroots basketball development, media distribution, corporate partnerships and social responsibility initiatives that improve the livelihoods of African youth and families.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today named Clare Akamanzi – an accomplished business executive and international trade and investment lawyer – as CEO of NBA Africa. Akamanzi will start her position on Jan. 23, 2024.#NBAAfrica pic.twitter.com/ur42N0T7da

— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) December 27, 2023

She formerly headed the Rwanda Development Board for six and a half years and will replace inaugural CEO Victor Williams, who joined the NBA in 2020 to oversee its expansion into Africa.

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