BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marilou van Golstein Brouwers, SBI Board Chair, is Managing Director of Triodos Investment Management, BV, part of the Triodos Bank group in the Netherlands, where she has worked since 1990. She is responsible for >20 investment funds with total assets of around EUR 1,7 billion, amongst which five funds that invest in emerging markets in microfinance and sustainable trade. Marilou van Golstein Brouwers has served on the boards of a number of microfinance banks: Akiba Commercial Bank, Tanzania; Centenary Bank in Uganda; K-REP Bank, Kenya; KMB Bank, Russia, BRAC Afghanistan Bank and Kashf Microfinance Bank in Pakistan. She has also served on the Executive Committee of CGAP, and she was a member of the Group of Advisors for the UN International Year of Microcredit in 2005.She is currently on the board of directors of Women’s World Banking and she is Treasurer of the Max Havelaar Foundation in the Netherlands.
Steve McConnell is a retired Executive Vice President of ShoreBank Corporation. Mr. McConnell helped launch ShoreCap International, coordinated ShoreBank’s enterprise lending and investing activities, and led all Michigan based operations, including Northern Initiatives and ShoreBank BIDCO and the start-up operations in Detroit. He also served as ShoreBank’s Chief Financial Officer from 1993 to October 1996. Prior to joining ShoreBank, Mr. McConnell was President and CEO of Northern Community Investment Corporation, after working as a manufacturing company controller and with Price Waterhouse & Company. Mr. McConnell continues to serve on numerous boards in addition to SBI.
Carol Peasley is President and CEO of the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA). Ms. Peasley is retired Career Minister of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after a distinguished 30-plus year career. She is a recognized expert in international development and U.S. foreign assistance, having worked at senior levels within the U.S. Government on policy formulation, strategic planning, program development, and program implementation and monitoring. She held senior positions in Washington and overseas, including as USAID Mission Director in both Malawi and the Russian Federation, and as Counselor to the Agency and Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa in Washington.
Laurie J. Spengler is President and CEO of SBI (ShoreBank International Ltd.). Having founded and managed a business solutions and legal services firm in Central Europe for 15 years, Ms. Spengler brings an entrepreneurial perspective and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of working in transitional economies. Ms. Spengler has over 25 years of experience as a strategy and transaction services professional, with significant experience in capital raising, M&A, and private equity transactions. Prior to joining SBI, Ms. Spengler was the founder and CEO of Central European Advisory Group. Previously, she worked as an attorney with the New York, Brussels and Prague offices of White & Case. Ms. Spengler has served on a number of community service boards of directors, including the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic and the Fulbright Board in the Czech Republic. Ms. Spengler is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
John J. Stack is the retired Chairman and CEO of Česká spořitelna, the largest bank in the Czech Republic. Česká spořitelna was a bankrupt bank in 2000 when it was privatized by the Czech government and when Mr. Stack became Chairman and CEO. During his eight years of leadership, the bank was consistently rated as best in the Czech Republic with Return on Equity over 20 percent, highest customer satisfaction scores, and a broad effort of investing in the community. Prior to joining Česká spořitelna, he spent 23 years at Chemical Bank (now JP Morgan Chase) and seven years working in New York City municipal government. He serves on several boards, including Erste Bank Group, Ally Financial Inc., Mutual of America, and the Fund for Peace.