
Team Members
Amb. Erastus J. O. Mwencha
Executive Board Chairman
Starting as one of the first employees at the then Preferential Trade Area (PTA), Amb. Mwencha went on to serve as the Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). In that role, he launched Africa’s first free trade area and the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), a multilateral investment guarantee agency. After COMESA, Mwencha was elected Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission and was 'architect' of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Since leaving the African Union, he now concurrently serves as Chairman of Equity Bank and TradeMark East Africa.
Kelly Parker
Non-Executive Member of the Board
Now retired from Universal Corporation where he served for over 39 years--most recently as vice president, corporate affairs--Ligon began his career in the management trainee program. He served in roles such as leaf buyer, North American sales director, president of Casa export and America’s Harvest, to his latest position in which he was charged with global regulatory, social, labor and government matters. In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly appointed Ligon to the Advisory Committee on International Trade where he is Chair. He is on Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum Advisory board and is Chair of the TMA Board.
Yonov Frederick Agah
Non-Executive Member of the Board
Following his successful two-terms as the Deputy-Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Yonov was appointed Director-General and Chief Trade Negotiator of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations. He was previously Director of External Trade in the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigeria’s ambassador to the WTO, and Chair of the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body. As Deputy Director General of the WTO, he was lauded for organizing the WTO's Eighth Ministerial Conference; a resounding success despite the stalemate of the Doha Round. He has a PhD in Economics.