Stephen Hayes (business executive)
Stephen Hayes | |
|---|---|
| President Emeritus at the Corporate Council on Africa | |
| In office 2017–present | |
| CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa | |
| In office 1999–2017 | |
| Succeeded by | Florizelle Liser |
| Founder and president at American Center for International Leadership | |
| In office 1985–1999 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | America |
| Alma mater | Indiana University Texas A&M University |
Stephen Hayes is an American international development and trade executive known for his leadership in U.S.–Africa economic relations and international policy dialogue. He served as President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa from 1999 to 2017 and was subsequently named President Emeritus. During his tenure, the organization expanded significantly and advocated to the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Earlier in his career, Hayes founded the American Center for International Leadership (ACIL) in 1985, promoting dialogue between emerging leaders in the United States and countries including China, Vietnam, and Libya. He was a founding figure in the Infant Formula Campaign, referred to as the 1977 Nestlé boycott. The campaign's resolution was reported on the front page of The New York Times in 1983.
His work at Corporate Council on Africa earned major recognition in the USA, including the Ron Brown Award for International Leadership in 2008 and the President's “E” Award for Excellence in International Trade in 2015. In 2023, he joined the international consulting firm Gainful Solutions as a partner. He earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in 1969 and a master's degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University in 1972.