Mark T Jones – Executive Director
Mark is a fervent internationalist, who is widely travelled. In the year 2000 he initiated and oversaw a major humanitarian venture into war-torn Sierra Leone, and then spent two years in the Middle East where he worked in Jordan (2002 – 2004). An orator of distinction, he is the author of several books and numerous articles. Having formulated Jones’ Octagon of Success (JOOS) he uses this to train Legislative Leaders and senior executives internationally. An advisor on trade and investment in Africa’s frontier markets, he believes that many of the current economic and geopolitical difficulties in the world are the result of a combination of a poverty of leadership, poor regional/market knowledge and a lack of strategic vision. Amongst other responsibilities he sits on the Board of the Kitenge Africa Foundation (Uganda) as well as the Advisory Board of the Gumbad Business Review (India) and the Advisory Committee of the International Journal of Contemporary Research in Management & Social Sciences (India). In 1994 Mark was elected a Freeman of the City of London.
Mohamed Y Ali - Operations Director
Mohamed is keen to harness his considerable drive and discernment in the corporate world. After a spell as a Regional Business Development Executive at Kinnarps he moved to the Middle East where he worked for Fara’ed Holding, a prestigious Kuwaiti private equity firm. During his time in Kuwait he forged a wealth of contacts throughout the region as well as building up an intimate knowledge of the dynamics of finance, international trade and development in the Middle East and East Africa. Such is his knowledge of the Horn of Africa that in 2011 he became the Co-Founder and Chair of Pride of Somaliland, an organisation established to celebrate the achievement of remarkable individuals and organisations both in Somaliland and throughout the Somaliland Diaspora. Mohamed has a highly developed sense of social responsibility, and is committed to ensuring that the commercial potential of the Horn of Africa and adjacent regions is reached. A skilled and fearless negotiator, his business acumen and regional insight is in considerable demand.
Ibrahim A Yusuf – Communications Director
Ibrahim is an individual of considerable drive and ambition, who is proud to hail from a corporate background that has seen him gain a wealth of experience from a number of top 500 Fortune companies. He has a keen understanding of the importance of branding, having previously been a marketing executive for Canon, where amongst a range of responsibilities was helping to communicate the corporate brand, a role that often saw him appearing as a guest presenter on television. Subsequently he has worked for Casio as channel manager, where he has continued to utilise his skills to secure a raft of major business deals. Whilst primarily based in London, Ibrahim has a truly global outlook and takes a particular interest in enterprise in the Horn of Africa and adjacent regions. He is committed to helping others gain an appreciation and insight into the potential of a range of African markets, and is eager to play a purposeful role in stimulating active, ethical engagement that he believes will result in lasting sustainable development.
