On the 31st of July 2018 the 53rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took place in Lomé, Togo, and it featured the swearing-in of Cote d’Ivoire’s Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, as the new President of ECOWAS commission.
A year before, the 52nd ordinary session had held on 16 December 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria, during which the West African leaders allocated the position of ECOWAS Commission President to Cote d’Ivoire and approved the appointment of Jean-Claude Kassi Brou to the position for a term of four years, effective 1st March 2018.
An epitome of true leadership, Jean-Claude has served in various leadership positions with good reports to show for it.
Until his appointment as President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou was Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Industry and Mines since October 2012.
He served as Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire from 1991 to 1995. In 1996, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, a position he held until 1999. During that period and along with his duties, he chaired the country’s Privatisation Committee.
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou also spent eight years at the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). He successively held the positions of Director of International Relations and Director of Economic Studies until 2005.
He subsequently headed the Economic Studies and Currency Department, before being appointed Special Advisor and Comptroller-General from 2007 to 2008.
He was also the World Bank Resident Representative for Chad from 2010 to 2012.
He holds a PhD in Economics, an MBA in Finance from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and a Master’s degree from the National University of Cote d’Ivoire.
He began his professional career at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1982, first as Senior Economist and then worked in Senegal, from 1990 to 1991, as IMF Resident Representative.
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou authored one article: “Adjustment Program in Senegal” (IMF Survey, 1988) and a book, “Privatisation in Cote d’Ivoire: Challenges and Practices” (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2008).
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou continues to inspire the young African generation with his portfolio of outstanding impact within the region, continent and world at large.
