A Gathering of Pan-African Leaders to Honor Ambassador Andrew Young

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a message from Dale Jones, President of Diversified Search:

A highly influential group of leaders representing African and African-American political, business and international trade communities will host the first annual "Gathering of Pan-African Leaders" at the Mayflower Hotel on Monday, August 4, 2014. The dinner and reception will be held in advance of the historic White House US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC. 

This year's gathering will honor the work and leadership of former UN Ambassador Andrew Young who has worked tirelessly to promote trade and investment opportunities between Africa and North America. The goal of the gathering will be to advance the domestic business community's focus on trade and investment in Africa and to help spur job and economic growth in the United States and Africa. Ambassador Young has accepted the honor and looks forward to the opportunity to foster dialogue and to develop key partnerships between the United States and Africa.

Several current African heads of state, including President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Macky Sall of Senegal, and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, have been invited and are expected to attend the pre-summit reception and dinner as well as serve as honorary chairs.

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman of Econet Wireless and one of Forbes' top 50 business leaders, will convene a host committee that includes the following executives:

• Mr. Lucien Ebata, Chief Executive Officer of Orion Group SA and Publisher of Forbes Afrique
• Mr. Ronald Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Executive Leadership Council
• Ms. Ann Fudge, Director of General Electric and Unilever
• Dr. John Thornton, Chief Executive Officer of Barrick Gold Corporation and Chairman of The Brookings Institute
• Mr. Gregory Page, Chairman of The Cargill Corporation
• Mr. Alexander Cummings, Chief Administrative Officer of the Coca-Cola Company and Corporate Director of S.C. Johnson & Son
• Ms. Janet Hill, Corporate Director for Dean Foods, The Wendy's Corporation, and The Carlyle Group
• Dr. Darius Mans, President and Chief Executive Officer of Africare
• Mr. Mark Mason, Chief Executive Officer of CITI Private Bank
• Mr. Franck Moison, Chief Operating Officer of The Colgate Palmolive Company
• Mr. Earl Stafford, Chief Executive Office of The Wentworth Group, LLC
• Dr. David Thomas, Dean of McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University
• Dr. John Wilson, President of Morehouse College

"This event will embody the leadership and legacy of Ambassador Andrew Young," said Mr. Masiyiwa, chairman of the Pan-African Gathering. "We believe this spirit of goodwill will set the right tone going in to the White House summit meetings."

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden have been invited.

Several other notable leaders and former heads of state have also been invited, including President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Jimmy Carter, Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, and General Colin Powell.

Mr. Dale Jones, President of Diversified Search, and Mr. Carlos Austin, a private investor, are serving as the co-chairs of the organizing committee.

Diversified Search is the 10th largest executive search firm in the United States with offices in 10 cities and affiliate offices in 30 countries, including South Africa. For over 40 years, Diversified Search has been identifying and assessing outstanding executives and placing them in senior leadership and board roles across a broad range of industries.

Additional background:

Strive Masiyiwa is the founder and chairman of the global telecommunications group, Econet Wireless. He currently serves on a number of international boards, including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Advisory Board of the Counsel on Foreign Relations, the Africa Progress Panel, and AGRA, the UN Secretary General's Advisory Boards for Sustainable Energy, and for Education. He is a juror of the Hilton Foundation's Humanitarian Prize. In 2012, Masiyiwa attended the G-8 Summit at Camp David at the invitation of President Obama to help G-8 leaders find innovative ways to increase food production and end hunger in Africa.

Dale Jones is the President of Diversified Search. Before joining Diversified, Dale served as Vice Chairman and partner of the CEO and Board Practice at Heidrick & Struggles International. He also serves on the boards of Northwestern Mutual, Kohls and Morehouse College.

The Andrew J. Young Foundation is an extension of Ambassador Young's vision, values and virtues that continue to inspire leaders around the world to work toward a global community of peace, prosperity and inclusion. Established in 2003, the foundation supports and promotes education, health, leadership and human rights in the United States, Africa and the Caribbean.  Based on the philosophy of non-violent social change and a belief that unto whom much is given, much is required, the Foundation works to support, promote and develop global institutions and leaders with the capacity and knowledge for improving and enhancing social and economic justice and human rights through faith, non -violent action, democratic institutions and through socially responsible, for-profit corporations.

"The Gathering of Pan-African Leaders" is a meeting of American and African leaders seeking to pursue global partnerships for the common good and is not a fundraiser nor does it endorse a political party or organization.

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SOURCE Diversified Search