23 Jun SEAF JOINS COUNCIL FOR INCLUSIVE CAPITALISM
Washington, DC – June 23rd – SEAF has joined the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, a global nonprofit organization that joins moral and market imperatives to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted economic system to address the needs of our people and the planet. In the words of SEAF’s Co-CEO Agnes Dasewicz, “Inclusive capitalism is key to post-COVID equitable recovery, and we are honored to be invited and accepted into the Council.” For over 30 years, SEAF has pursued our mission of improving lives through investing in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging and frontier markets, using capital and direct business assistance for entrepreneurs who have the greatest impact in their communities. SEAF is committed to continuing the important work of being a catalyst for change by helping SMEs scale their companies, create jobs, and yield positive social and environmental impact.
“I am thrilled to welcome SEAF to the Council and look forward to working with them as they take the necessary actions to ensure a better future for us all,” said Meredith Sumpter, CEO of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. “Whether you run a small business, a mid-sized company, or are the CEO of a global corporation, we all have a role to play to build more inclusive economies and societies.”
The Council for Inclusive Capitalism is rooted in action and led by CEOs and global leaders who commit their organizations to specific actions to create long-term value for all stakeholders. Council members lead organizations of all sizes and across all sectors and geographies. Members’ commitments are measurable and made public on the Council’s online platform. The commitments are intended to motivate and challenge others to bring their own reform ideas to the movement, as it will take the conscious and collective action of all Council members—from industry leaders to mid-caps to small business owners—to scale the impact needed for capitalism to become more inclusive and sustainable.
The Council was launched in December 2020 with the belief that businesses have a responsibility and the capability to create stronger, fairer, and more dynamic economies and societies. Council membership is open to all companies and organizations who are willing to make measurable, public commitments toward more inclusive and sustainable business practices. You can see the full list of members here.
The Council is led by a core group of leaders which include:
Ajay Banga, Executive Chairman, Mastercard
Oliver Bäte, Chairman of the Board of Management, Allianz SE
Marc Benioff, Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-founder, Salesforce
Edward Breen, Executive Chairman, Dupont
Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
Mark Carney, United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister for COP26
Carmine Di Sibio, Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EY
Brunello Cucinelli, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A.
Roger Ferguson, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, TIAA
Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Founder and Managing Partner, Inclusive Capital Partners
Kenneth Frazier, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co., Inc.
Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies
Marcie Frost, Chief Executive Officer, CalPERS
Alex Gorsky, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Angel Gurria, Secretary General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Alfred Kelly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Visa Inc.
William Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies
Bernard Looney, Chief Executive Officer, BP
Fiona Ma, Treasurer, State of California
Hiro Mizuno, Member of the Board, Principles for Responsible Investment
Brian Moynihan, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of America
Ronald P. O’Hanley, President and Chief Executive Officer, State Street Corporation
Rajiv Shah, President, The Rockefeller Foundation
Tidjane Thiam, Special Envoy on COVID-19, African Union
Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation
Mark Weinberger, Former Chair and CEO of EY, and Board member of J&J, MetLife, and Saudi Aramco
About the Council for Inclusive Capitalism:
The Council for Inclusive Capitalism is a global nonprofit organization established to harness the potential of the private sector to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted form of capitalism. The Council is guided by His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, who leads the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican and is led by a core group of global CEOs and public leaders who convene annually with the Vatican to advance the Council’s mission. Further information can be found at www.inclusivecapitalism.com.
About SEAF:
Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) is a global impact private equity manager focused on providing growth capital and operational support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. Utilizing an ESG+ investment approach, SEAF selectively makes structured debt and equity investments in locally-owned enterprises with high growth potential to actively build resilience within SMEs themselves and more largely within their communities, focusing on climate, food security, and inclusion. SEAF is a global organization headquartered in Washington D.C., with 15 offices in Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past three decades, SEAF has managed more than 40 Funds across 33 countries. SEAF’s on-the-ground presence in our countries of focus, coupled with our proactive and responsive business model, enables us to source opportunities and work closely with local entrepreneurs, providing the capital, hands-on operational support, knowledge, and networks they need. SEAF also supports ten Centers for Entrepreneurship and Development (CEED) worldwide to provide training, mentoring, and global access to professional networks and entrepreneur-run businesses.