The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) has announced the appointment of Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, National Digital Transformation Lead for Africa at Microsoft, to its Board. Angela’s appointment signifies GLEIF’s focus on Africa while leveraging her expertise and experience to further enhance the organization’s mission on the continent.
She joins a Nigerian to become the first two Africans and the first Ghanaian to join this prestigious board.
In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, regulators worldwide acknowledged the challenge of identifying parties to transactions across markets, products, and regions. As a response, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the Group of 20 (G20) advocated for the development of a universal Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) applicable to any legal entity engaged in financial transactions. The LEI, a 20-character, alpha-numeric code connects to essential reference information of an entity, enabling clear and unique identification of legal entities involved in financial transactions. This fosters improved transparency, risk assessment, and data accuracy in the financial markets.
Headquartered in Zurich, GLEIF, founded by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), oversees the implementation and use of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) across the global financial community. The initial GLEIF Board of Directors was endorsed by the FSB Plenary in January 2014.
Angela expressed her appreciation to be selected to serve on the board and her enthusiasm for advancing the adoption of LEIs throughout the African continent. She emphasized the pivotal role LEIs can play in supporting Africa’s SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and facilitating cross-border trade. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of raising awareness and promoting widespread adoption of LEIs among businesses, governments, and financial institutions to maximize the benefits.
Alongside Angela’s appointment, Dessa Glasser has been named the new Chair of the Board. Folarin Alayande, Mastercard, and Luis Felipe Monteiro, CEO of Cateno Payments have also been appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the Board.
Angela has served on many boards including Allianz Insurance & Bayport Financial Services and currently serves on the Bank of Ghana board. She has played a pivotal role in advancing the digital transformation of the continent fostering collaborations between tech giants and various African governments and organizations.
By Prince Akpah