Accra, Ghana -December 29, 2015 – Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, a global youth-focused organization is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Elango Bintliff as its new chief executive officer. Ms. Bintliff brings more than 17 years of experience in developing countries and emerging economies to her new role having served as vice-president of Africa Programs at Heifer International. She succeeds, the outgoing CEO, Dr. Chinwe Effiong.
Junior Achievement (JA) is recognized throughout the world as the expert in providing business and economic education to young people. Since its founding in 1919, JA programs have served as a catalyst for bringing real-world business knowledge and hands-on experience to young people. JA has improved the lives of more than 125 million youth around the world, and last year alone, JA facilitated more than 10 million student experiences. Junior Achievement programs were first introduced in sub-Saharan Africa in 1979, and now JA has operations in 14 African nations reaching more than 200,000 youth annually.
Ms. Bintliff is “thrilled to be joining the Junior Achievement team” and “believes strongly that today’s youth are key to Africa’s future and JA’s work is critical to equipping them with the tools and resources they need to secure that future and lead the continent.”
Born and raised in Cameroon, Bintliff earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, and has a Masters in African Studies from Yale University. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Zanzibar and started her career at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, GA. She is fluent in English, French, Swahili and West African Krio and also has working comprehension of Portuguese.
She also holds a Master’s Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas; a program of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce. Bintliffwas recently awarded the Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth Distinguished Alumni Award for Exceptional Humanitarian and Service Achievement by her alma mater, Kennesaw State University.
Elizabeth is married and a mother of two.