TradeMark Africa
Growing Prosperity Through Trade

TradeMark Africa

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Board of Directors

The Board is chaired by H.E Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, who is the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia. 

The Board is chaired by H.E Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, who is the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia; Vice Chair Susan Kiama, People Operations at Twiga Foods.

Members include:

  • Alex Fraser, Senior Adviser on Intra-African Trade and development for the African division of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
  • Celestine Munda, Government and Infrastructure Lead, Ernst & Young.
  • David Luke, Strategic Director Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics.
  • Professor Dominic McVey MBE, a business leader with extensive experience in building businesses and not for profits across the African continent.
  • Gabriel Negatu, Managing Director of Invest Afrique Inc and formerly Director General Eastern Africa, African Development Bank.
  • Lola Ekugo, a Digital and Innovation Expert and Chief Digital Officer at FBN Quest (an arm of FBN Holdings PLC).
  • Patricia Ojangole, CEO of Uganda Development Bank.
  • Sanjay Rughani, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Uganda.

H.E Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe

Board Chair
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Dr. Patricia
Ojangóle

Board Member
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Prof. David
Luke

Board Member
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Gabriel Negatu

Board Member
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Celestine Munda

Board Member
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Lola Aworanti - Ekugo

Board Member
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Sanjay Rughani

Board Member
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Prof. Dominic Mcvey

Board Member
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Alexander Fraser

Board Member
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More on Who We Are
H.E Hailemariam Dessalegn
H.E Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe - Board Chairman

H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe took up his appointment as TradeMark Africa’s Board Chair in September 2024. As a senior political leader with experience on both national and continental stages, H.E. Desalegn’s expertise and experience is central to guiding TMA through its 2023-2030 strategy. The strategy focuses on continuing to reduce the time and cost of transporting goods across borders and improving market access for SMEs by improving the value and quality of traded goods, while addressing the trade-related challenges of the future for the continent.

H.E Desalegn’s tenure as Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018 was marked by a visionary approach to economic and diplomatic engagements, under which Ethiopia saw sustained double-digit economic growth. His experience in fostering trade agreements and promoting economic integration during his tenure as Chair of Africa Union from 2013 to 2014, is particularly relevant as TMA intensifies its efforts to support African governments in defining and negotiating their trade policy.

H.E. Desalegn holds a master’s degree in water and environmental engineering from Tampere University of Technology in Finland and a second Master’s in Organisational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University in California, USA. He previously held the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Minister of Social Affairs and Government Chief-Whip Minister. He also served as Governor of the Southern Regional State of Ethiopia for six years. He serves on several Boards of international organisations.

Dr. Patricia Ojangóle - Board Member

Managing Director, Uganda Development Bank Limited

Dr. Patricia Ojangole has been serving as Managing Director of the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) since 2013. 

Under her strategic leadership, UDB’s balance sheet has grown tenfold from UGX 109 billion in 2013 to UGX 1.78 trillion in 2024. It has earned national and international recognition for driving Uganda’s industrialization, growing the economy through impactful financial and non-financial interventions, creating jobs and accelerating socio-economic development while ensuing inclusiveness and environmental protection. 

Dr. Ojangole has led efforts to ensure that the UDB remains adequately resourced to advance the Bank’s mandate of improving the quality of life of Ugandans. Under her stewardship, UDB’s role has evolved as one of the key institutions to implement the 4th National Development Plan (NDP IV). The bank is focused today in advancing the country’s 10-fold growth strategy with a focus on; Transformative Delivery Models, Driving Industrialization, Boosting Agriculture Productivity, Expanding the Services Sector, Green Finance Leadership, Building Local Expertise, Reaching the Underserved and Driving Digital Leadership. 

She is credited with explicitly rebuilding stakeholder confidence in the Bank, which has helped build public confidence and made it a preferred choice for long-term and affordable capital for investment projects in the country. 

Before joining UDB, initially as a Chief Audit Executive, Patricia was a Senior Manager of Internal Audit at Standard Bank Group, the largest private commercial Bank in the Country, a position she held for 10 years, often leading strategic audit activities in more than 10 African Countries that hosted Standard Bank’s subsidiaries. Her professional Internal Audit experience has given her an appreciation for internal controls, Risk Management, and Governance practices, which have helped her ensure that these are appreciated at all levels within UDB.

Dr. Ojangole holds a PhD in Development Finance from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa. Her doctoral research, “Structural Transformation, Private Sector Credit, and Growth: Implications for Employment and Inclusive Growth in Uganda,” offers timely and critical insights for Uganda’s development trajectory. She also holds a Master of Philosophy in Development Finance (cum laude) from the same institution, an Executive MBA from the Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI) in Tanzania, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from Makerere University, Uganda. She has completed several advanced leadership and executive management programs.

She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) and the Institute of Internal Auditors Uganda (IIA).

In 2025, Dr. Ojangole was appointed Chairperson of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI), becoming the first woman to hold the position since the Association’s inception. She had previously served with distinction as 1st Vice Chairperson of AADFI from 2019 to 2025, contributing significantly to shaping development finance policy across Africa.

In the same year, she was named Banker of the Year 2025 at the African Banker Awards, a prestigious recognition of her visionary leadership, strategic execution, and outstanding contribution to banking excellence on the continent.

Other recognitions that attest to her indelible leadership include winning “Sustainability Leader of the Year” at the Annual Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards for four consecutive years (2021–2024). This highly coveted international accolade honours Dr. Ojangole for demonstrating exceptional leadership in driving sustainability within UDB and making impact beyond her country. The Award recognizes her efforts to challenge the status quo and her determination to win against all odds for true social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Ojangole serves on the Boards of key institutions, including the Uganda Development Bank Ltd., the Uganda Bankers’ Association, Trademark Africa, Liberty Life Assurance Uganda Ltd., and the Council of Busitema University. She is also a Board member of the Association of Development Finance Institutions in the Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI). Her previous Board roles include The New Vision Group, Msingi East Africa, and the European Union supported START Facility Management Board. She also served on the Advisory Board of IFAD’s 2025 Rural Development Report.

With a remarkable track record of institutional transformation, global recognition, and visionary leadership, Dr. Patricia Ojangole continues to shape the future of sustainable development finance in Uganda and across the African continent.

Prof. David Luke - Board Member

David is a trade policy expert with over 30 years’ experience in regional economic integration and private sector response. He is currently the Strategic Director, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, LSE. Prior to this role, he was the Chief of Trade at the African Union in Addis Ababa, Coordinator (Director) African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) UNECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Head, Trade and Human Development Unit, UNDP, Geneva, Switzerland.  

Gabriel Negatu - Board Member

Mr Gabriel Negatu is the former Director General at the Africa Development Bank (AfDB). He has more than 25 years of senior level program, operations and managerial experience, including 18 years at AfDB. He has extensive experience in operations having been senior and principal programme officer from 1998 to 2002, chief programme officer from 2002 to 2006 and sector director for economic and financial governance, where he headed the bank’s first governance department. Mr. Negatu was credited for successfully leading the bank’s response to the global financial crisis and for spearheading the use of budget support operations for fragile states.

Mr Negatu holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Planning from California State University and a Master’s Degree in Public and International Administration with a focus on Economics and Social Development from the university of Pittsburgh.

Celestine Munda - Board Member

Celestine is the Government and Infrastructure Lead at Ernst and Young (EY). She was previously the Risk Consulting Leader and Country Managing Partner in the same institution. She also serves in the following capacities: Ernst and Young Global Board, Vice President of Institute of Internal Audit (RSA) at the Jim McPhee Foundation and is the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Internal Audit Endorsed Programme (IAEP) in the University of Pretoria (RSA)

Lola Aworanti-Ekugo - Board Member

Lola is a Digital and Innovation expert with over 17 years’ experience focused on offering innovative solutions to real world challenges within the private sector and strengthening the start-up ecosystem through partnerships and impact programs. She is currently the Chief Digital Officer at FBNQuest (an arm of FBN Holdings Plc). Prior she worked in similar roles across Europe and Africa at companies including Dresdner Kleinwort, Commerzbank, BNP Paribas, Union Bank, and First Bank Nigeria. She is the author of the fiction novel titled “Lagos to London”.

Lola holds a BSc in Business Information systems with First Class Honours from Middlesex University, London with a scholarship for outstanding academic achievement and an MBA from Imperial College Business School, London. She has received various recognitions, including the Special Recognition: Women in ICT Award of the Year Award at the Women Tech Network Global Awards 2022, Top 30 women in Fintech by Fintech Africa in 2019, 60 African female fintech experts who are helping to build a professional identity for women in fintech by African Shapers in 2021 and Top 40 CEOs under 40 in Africa by Young Entrepreneurs Summit in 2022. She is also serves as board member for Southwest Innovation and Technology (SWIT) a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Limited.

Sanjay Rughani - Board Member

Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited

Mr. Sanjay Rughani is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited, a position he has held since July 2022. 

Sanjay’ has a career spanning close to 25 years in Banking across Africa, Asia and Europe, he has worked in senior roles in the UK, Kenya, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’ Ivoire, with responsibilities overseeing operations in the Standard Chartered Bank Business in Africa and India. His most recent role prior to this appointment, was CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Tanzania. 

Sanjay is recognized for driving significant business transformation, in his role as the CEO, he has won significant accolades for his position and through his strong leadership representation with different important thought leadership forums. He is credited with enhancing business performance, building and optimizing on human capital, championing responsible business and driving digital integration and innovation. He is also acknowledged as a force for good for national and regional prosperity having championed private sector initiatives to elevate trade, investments, leadership capacity building, value partnerships and sustainability.

He is currently Chairman of Professional Accountants in Business Advisory Group (PAIB AG) of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Chairman British Chamber of Commerce Uganda,  Chairman YPO Africa Great Lakes Chapter,  Chairman Furaha Financial Uganda, Member Uganda Bankers Association Central Executive Committee, Chairman The Standard Chartered Group Benevolent Fund. 

His past key governance representations included being Chairman of CEO Roundtable Tanzania, Deputy Chairman of Tanzania Bankers Association (TBA), Executive member of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), Director of Association of Tanzanian Employers (ATE), President of Lincoln Community School (International School in Ghana), Chairman of Ghana Business Coalition against HIV & AIDS (GBCA), Director Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and Founder member of FSSC forum in Kenya.

Sanjay’s professional credentials and qualifications include being a Chartered Accountant through NBAA Tanzania, a Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), MBA in Finance, a Fellow of Institute of Information Management Africa (Nigeria), Management post-graduation in HRD and a Bachelor of Commerce. 

He is a Tanzanian citizen.

Prof. Dominic McVey - Board Member

Professor Dominic McVey MBE is an exceptional business leader and board director with extensive experience in building businesses and not for profits across the African continent. Professor McVey has a portfolio of multi-national business interests, spanning manufacturing, technology, cosmetics and management consultancy. He is an outspoken and committed advocate for increasing equitable trade with developing countries and promoting sustainable foreign direct investment into African countries. His not-for-profit roles include Non- Executive Director – Overseas Development Institute, Advisory Council member – Coalition for Global Prosperity, and Chairman of Computer Aid International. Professor McVey is a respected speaker on business ethics and entrepreneurship and consults with government think tanks and world leaders. Professor McVey brings on board visionary perspectives on the role of trade in development, and strong connections with AfCFTA, Regional Economic Communities, African governments, global trade organisations and the private sector.

Alexander Fraser - Board Member

Alex Fraser is an accomplished international development professional with experience across financial services, industry, international trade and economic development. He is currently the Senior Adviser on intra-African trade and development for the Africa division of the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). In this role he is responsible for the UK’s development strategy on intra-African trade, including overseeing UK funding to TradeMark Africa and partnership with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. He has previously served as a non-executive director on the board of Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) where he was a member of the investment and development impact committees. Alex has varied international experience across the public and private sectors at FCDO, DFID, UK Export Finance and Rolls-Royce plc, and holds degrees from The University of Edinburgh and King’s College London.