Alex Assanvo – Executive Secretary

Cote d'Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative

H. E. Alex Assanvo is the first Executive Secretary of the Cȏte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI). This unique partnership was set up as the result of the presidents of the world’s top cocoa producers, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, coming together to address market challenges one by one, faced by the countries, so that the cocoa price eventually reflects the social value of the product and ensures a decent income for farmers. Before his appointment, Assanvo was Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Mars. He began his international development career with the German development agency (GIZ) as a Rural Development Expert between 2002 and 2006 in Dakar, Senegal.
He moved on to Fairtrade Labelling International (FLO), in Germany in 2006 as Head for Africa and the Strategic Lead for Cocoa and Cotton. He later joined the Sustainability and Procurement team at Kraft Foods, now Mondelēz International, from October 2011 to 2013 as the Cocoa Development Manager in charge of the Cocoa Life Programme.