Tewodros Ashenafi

Tewodros Ashenafi (born 26 August 1969) is an Ethiopian entrepreneur. He currently serves as CEO of SouthWest Energy.[1][2]

Education

Ashenafi holds a degree in Economics from Columbia College of Columbia University, where he studied under Professor Edmund Phelps. He graduated from Columbia in 1991. Ashenafi is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and attended the Owner Management Programme (OPM).

Career

Ashenafi is the Chairman of SouthWest Energy. He also serves as Chairman of SouthWest Development and Chairman of Ambo Mineral Water.

Ashenafi started his career at Merrill Lynch & Co in New York. Prior to founding SouthWest Energy in 2005,[3] Mr. Ashenafi carried out international political and economic consulting work advising large international companies and pension funds about investment conditions in emerging markets, mainly in Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In July 2016, Ashenafi played a major role in the privatization of Japan Tobacco International (with Ashenafi acting as the local partner) acquired 40% of Ethiopia’s National Tobacco Enterprise. The enterprise value of the deal was $1.4 billion, which is also one of largest private transactions in Africa.[4]

In 2017, Forbes listed him as one of the richest men in Ethiopia.[5]

Board memberships

Ashenafi is on the Board of Directors of EastWest Institute, a New York-based security think tank.[6] He also sits on the International Advisory Board of the Atlantic Council, an organisation that promotes leadership and engagement in international affairs. He is a member of the Advisory Board for Columbia University’s Africa Centre.

Awards and affiliations

Ashenafi was nominated as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in 2009 by the World Economic Forum, which recognizes the 200 most distinguished young leaders under the age of 40.[6] He is also a member of Initiative for Global Development’s Frontier 100.[3]

References
  1. "Frontier mentality". The Economist. 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  2. Davison, William (May 9, 2012). "SouthWest Energy of Ethiopia Optimistic on Oil Search in Ogaden". Bloomberg.
  3. Institute for Global Development, "IGD Update, Summer 2012 | Initiative for Global Development". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2012-11-12., [Institute for Global Development], Accessed November 11, 2012
  4. "Japan tobacco pays USD 510 mln to acquire stake on National Tobacco". www.thereporterethiopia.com. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  5. Nsehe, Mfonobong. "5 Ethiopian Multi-Millionaires You Should Know". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  6. EastWest Institute, "EWI Director Tewodros Ashenafi Discusses Ethiopia's Future | EastWest Institute". Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2012-11-12., EastWest Institute, Accessed November 11, 2012
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