Meet Ibukun Awosika and Leslie Maasdorp, 2 Africans newly appointed to Binance’s advisory board

Leading cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has announced the creation of a new Global Advisory Board (GAB). The new board is composed of well-known 11 members who are experts in public policy, government, finance, economics, and corporate governance.

These include two Africans, Leslie Maasdorp from South Africa and Ibukun Awosika from Nigeria. Others include Former U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Max Bacus (USA), Advisor of the Korea Presidential Committee, HyungRin Bang (Korea), Managing Partner, Cathay Capital, Bruno Bezard (France), Former Minister of the Economy, Brazil and Henrique de Campos Meirelles (Brazil).

Others include the Honorary Board Member of The Aspen Institute Mexico, Adalberto Palma (Mexico), Non-Profit and Political strategist, David Plouffe (USA), Founder and Managing Director of acs plus, Christin Schäfer (Germany), Member of the House of Lords, Lord Vaizey (UK) and Chair, EUROFI, David Wright (Europe).

According to an announcement by the company, the primary goal of the board is to advise Binance on some of the most complex regulatory, political, and social issues confronting the entire crypto industry as it rapidly grows and evolves.

For more than 5 years, Binance has been at the forefront of the cryptocurrency exchange industry as it explores the fascinating new frontiers of blockchain, Web3, and cryptocurrencies. With this new GAB, the company aspires to make the advantages of contemporary finance and blockchain accessible to everyone.

Commenting on the creation of this new Advisory Board, Binance founder and CEO, Changpeng Zhao said:

With the GAB, we’re supercharging our ability to manage regulatory complexity by tapping into the highest level of expertise available anywhere in the world. This collaboration between Binance and the leading experts of the GAB is a testament to our focus on compliance, transparency and ensuring a collaborative relationship with the world’s regulators as they develop sensible regulations worldwide.

– Binance founder and CEO, Changpeng Zhao

By commenting on the most difficult and delicate regulatory and compliance issues affecting cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web3, Binance is leveraging the GAB’s unmatched collective experience and expertise to advance the sustainable growth of the industry as a whole.

Read Also: How over $2bn was laundered through Binance between 2017 and 2021

Leslie Maasdorp- SA

Leslie Maasdorp has over 25 years of experience in investment banking, corporate strategy, and economic policymaking. He has held important executive positions during this time in the public and private sectors.

Prior to joining Binance Global Advisory Board, Leslie served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the New Development Bank. He graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a BA in Economics and Psychology and holds an MSc in Economics from SOAS, University of London.

Commenting on the new collaboration with Binance, Leslie Maasdorp said,

The blockchain and crypto industry can act as a true catalyst for growth and economic opportunities. For the cities that are willing to partner with companies like Binance in order to create progressive regulations and an effective Web3 environment, I expect it to enable a number of investments into the space. I look forward to working with a number of experts as part of Binance’s Global Advisory Board in order to collaborate.

Leslie Maasdorp

In 2002, Leslie was the first African to be appointed as an international adviser to Goldman Sachs. In 2006 he was appointed as Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Barclays Capital. In 2011 he was appointed as President of Bank of America Merrill Lynch In July 2014,

Read Also: Binance raises $500m fund for cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies

Ibukun Awosika- Nigeria

Prior to joining Binance’s Global Advisory Board, Mrs Ibukun Awosika was the First Bank of Nigeria’s first female chairman and a member of its board of directors. She is also a member of Cadbury PLC’s board of directors.

Mrs Awosika holds a BA degree in Chemistry from the University of Ife, Nigeria. She is also an alumna of the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School and the IESE Business School’s Global Executive MBA in Barcelona, Spain.

She serves on the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, and is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

Commenting on the new appointment, Ibukun Awosika said,

The transparency and accountability with which Binance seeks to deliver services to its clients is impressive. As a company of the future, Binance must continue to evolve, build and find solutions in real time. I am proud to play a role as a member of its Global advisory board and to e a part of truly transforming the web3 economy.

Ibukun Awosika

She is the founder of the Chair Centre Group, the Chairman of the Nigerian Advisory Board for Impact Investing and the Convention on Business Integrity, and a member of the G7 International Impact Investing Task Force. She has also authored several books.