The Export-Import Bank of the United States (US Ex-Im) has approved nine new members, and one returning member, to the bank’s Sub-Saharan Africa advisory committee (SAAC). The committee provides expert guidance in developing policies to strengthen the bank’s support of US exports to Africa.

Chairing the committee this year is new member Darius Mans, president of Africare, Washington, DC, and former acting chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

The other newly appointed members are: Pamela Carter, president of Cummins Distribution; Maureen Harrington, director, corporate and investment banking group, Standard Bank of South Africa; Stephen Hirsch, vice-president for project development, Geothermal Development Associates; Todd Moss, vice-president for corporate affairs and senior fellow, Centre for Global Development; Ihssane Mounir, vice-president of sales for Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Robert Perry, vice-president, Corporate Council on Africa and former US ambassador to the Central African Republic; Witney Schneidman, principal of Schneidman & Associates International; and Diane Willkens, founder, CEO and president of Development Finance International.

Returning for a third term is Vernon Darko, president and CEO of EquipXP.

"We are grateful to these committee members, who volunteer their expertise and time to help US Ex-Im strengthen its support of job-creating US exports to Sub-Saharan Africa,” says US Ex-Im chairman and president Fred Hochberg.

The SAAC's next scheduled meeting is April 21, 2010 at the bank's headquarters in Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public.