Former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Donald Kaberuka, has been named senior advisor for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), an American worldwide management consulting firm with 85 offices in 48 countries.

The firm announced the appointment Thursday with official information indicating that the Rwandan will be working as a senior advisor to its public sector, social impact, and financial institutions practices.

Hans-Paul Bürkner, chair of BCG, said Kaberuka will help the firm advance its Africa strategy, advising on economic development, development finance, and financial institutions.

"Donald’s leadership and vision are matched only by his effectiveness in reforming and revitalising government and public institutions. His deep experience and wide-ranging expertise in economic policy and business issues, combined with his ability to forge strong public- and private-sector partnerships, will be tremendous assets to BCG and our clients,” he said.

Pascal Cotte, BCG’s regional chair for Western Europe, South America, and Africa, said: "We are honored to have him as part of the team, a further example of our deep commitment to growth in Africa.”

Kaberuka serves on the boards of trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and Centre for Global Development.

Illustrious career

Recipient of the 2014 Forbes Africa Lifetime Achievement Award, Kaberuka holds a PhD in economics from University of Glasgow, Scotland.

"I am excited to be joining BCG at a time when the firm seeks to expand its role in Africa,” said Kaberuka. "BCG is highly regarded for its global reach and deep understanding of the unique challenges facing the public sector and business, and the particular needs of emerging and frontier economies,” Kaberuka said.

"I’m looking forward to helping the firm extend its expertise in African economic development and financing, and to working with the firm to address the most pressing African and global development issues.”

Kaberuka is also currently senior advisor at the global private equity firm TPG/Satya and chairman of the board of Centum Investment.

Earlier in the year, he was appointed the African Union’s special envoy for financing to assist in mobilising the AU’s resources, including its Peace Fund activities.

He sits on several international panels, including the Business and Sustainable Development Commission and the Centre for Global Development’s panel on the future of multilateral development banking. "Throughout his 20-year career in public service, Kaberuka has established a reputation for exemplary leadership in development finance and economic development, with a deep and abiding commitment to Africa,” an official statement released by the firm reads in part.

In 2005, he became president of the African Development Bank Group and was re-elected in 2010. Under his leadership, the bank tripled its capital to $100 billion and doubled its portfolio, particularly in infrastructure and private-sector financing. In addition, the bank’s franchise value and stature grew significantly.

Even amid the global financial crisis, the bank sustained its AAA rating. Kaberuka stepped down in 2015.

From 1997 through 2005, Kaberuka served as the minister for finance and economic planning.

BCG advises clients in the private, public, and non-profit sectors around the world, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 500 and is one of the ‘Big Three’ strategy consulting firms (MBB).

It is considered one of the most prestigious management consulting firms. It was ranked second in Fortune’s "100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2015.

In 2010, the firm opened its first offices in Africa. They now have four permanent offices in Casablanca, Lagos, Luanda and Johannesburg, seven research centres and over 100 consultants across the continent.

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