Montreal, QC – June 20, 2022: FinDev Canada, Canada’s development finance institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of Export Development Canada (EDC), is pleased to announce the appointment of three members to its Board of Directors: Alzbeta Klein, Pierre Matuszewski, and Guillermo Rishchynski.
“The Board of Directors of FinDev Canada is thrilled to welcome Alzbeta, Pierre and Guillermo,” said Mairead Lavery, Chair of FinDev Canada’s Board of Directors and President and CEO of EDC. “They each bring a wealth of international experience and business expertise, which will be a huge benefit as we expand FinDev Canada’s ability to support the growth and sustainability of the private sector in developing markets.”
Alzbeta Klein joined the Board in June 2022, while Pierre Matuszewski and Guillermo Rishchynski were appointed in April 2021.
“Since the establishment of our Board of Directors, we’ve been intentional about recruiting directors with the right mix of skills and experience who are passionate about leading meaningful change and creating sustainable impact,” added Ms. Lavery. “The momentum created through our strong and diverse Board drives our mission forward, which in turn helps strengthen developing economies, create jobs, and reduce poverty.”
Please see Board Member biographies attached.
About FinDev Canada
The Development Finance Institute Canada Inc., operating under the FinDev Canada brand, is a Canadian institution dedicated to providing financial services to the private sector in developing countries with the aim of combating poverty through economic growth by focusing on three main themes: economic development through job creation, women’s economic empowerment, and climate change mitigation. The Development Finance Institute Canada Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Export Development Canada (EDC).
For more information, please contact:
Angela Rodriguez
FinDev Canada
Tel: 514-673-7154
Email: arodriguez@findevcanada.ca
Alzbeta Klein, CFA
Alzbeta Klein is the CEO/Director General of the International Fertilizer Association. In her role, she is leading the global fertilizer industry towards creating and supporting productive and sustainable agriculture systems that contribute to a world free of hunger and malnutrition.
In her previous roles, Ms. Klein led IFC/World Bank Group’s Climate Business, positioning IFC as a lead investor in green/ESG investments in emerging markets. Prior to this, she led IFC’s Agribusiness investments and Industrial investments, and managed IFC’s $50bn investment portfolio in emerging markets.
Ms. Klein received a Masters’ degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa, Canada, where she also studied for her doctorate; engineering degree from Prague University, Czech Republic; and executive education from Harvard Business School and INSEAD. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. She served on the boards of several agribusiness companies including Grupo Los Grobo in Argentina, HMH in South Africa, LAAD in Latin America, the New York University Center for Sustainable Business Advisory Board, and currently serves on the Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board and on the IFDC Board.
Pierre Matuszewski
Pierre Matuszewski, ICD.D was appointed to EDC’s board of directors in June 2018 and to FinDev Canada’s board of directors in April 2021. With close to 40 years of experience in the Canadian financial services industry, Mr. Matuszewski has held various roles at Société Générale (Canada), a schedule II Canadian chartered bank that is part of Société Générale, an international bank headquartered in Paris. Mr. Matuszewski was also the first Canadian to lead the Canadian operations of Société Générale when he took over as President and CEO in 2009, a position he held until 2018. Previously Mr. Matuszewski held positions at Laurentian Group Corporation, National Bank of Canada and McLeod Young Weir. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of various companies and institutions, including New Look Vision Group Inc, The Canadian Investor Protection Fund, Société Générale (Canada) as well as being a Governor of McGill University. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Laval University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from McGill University, Mr. Matuszewski holds numerous professional coaching and leadership certificates from business schools and universities.
Guillermo E. Rishchynski
Guillermo E. Rishchynski was appointed to FinDev Canada’s Board of Directors in April 2021.
Mr. Rishchynski retired from the IADB and from the Government of Canada on September 1, 2019. He was Regional Marketing Manager, Latin America, for lnterimco International before joining the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in 1983 as an Assistant Trade Commissioner. He has served abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Amman, Melbourne, Jakarta, Chicago and, from 1999 to 2002, as Ambassador to Colombia, in Bogota.
In Ottawa, he has served the department as Deputy Director, Latin America and Caribbean Trade Division, and Director, Team Canada Task Force and Inspector General. He joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 2003, serving as Vice President of the Americas Branch until his appointment as Ambassador to Brazil in 2005. In 2007, he was appointed Ambassador to Mexico and in 2011 he was appointed Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. He was appointed Executive Director for Canada at the Inter-American Development Bank on January 1, 2016.