Dr. Berhane Ghebray, Chairma

Dr. Berhane Ghebray has run his own Law and Consultancy firm since 1995, after a distinguished career as a business executive, a diplomat and an international civil servant as well as teaching law in the Addis Ababa University Faculty of Law. His legal practice is well-established and he enjoys a solid reputation in Ethiopia and abroa

Recent work experience includes legal due diligence work as part of the Société Française d’Etude et de Conseil (SOFRECO) team working for 9 enterprises in the textile and food sectors on behalf of the Ethiopian Privatization Agency and previously with the international consulting firm Ernst & Young for due diligence reports on 17 enterprises in the transport and agricultural sectors. Other due diligence studies have been done for the Commonwealth Development Corporation (UK). He has represented foreign companies in negotiations with the Public Enterprises Supervising Authority (PESA) and significantly contributed to bringing deals to a successful conclusion.

Dr Berhane is a leading expert in arbitration, including acting as arbitrator on behalf of the UN World Food Program and the European Union and has served as Counsel, expert witness and attorney in several cases brought before the ICC International Court of Arbitration. He is included in the roster of a small number of lawyers kept by the Ethiopian Investment Agency, international organizations and diplomatic missions and he provides legal services on a regular or occasional basis to public enterprises, private businesses and individuals.

Currently, he is also on the Board of Directors of Bank of Abyssinia. His academic qualifications include a Doctorate in Law from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) and he has been a visiting Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University, New York, USA.

Ermyas Tekil Amelga, Founder, CEO and Director

Ato Ermyas returned to Ethiopia in 1996, after 8 years of undergraduate and graduate academic training and12 years of successful investment banking experience in the United States. He worked for top international firms such as Kidder Peabody & Co, Inc. (1987-1991 as Vice President Corporate Finance covering Investment Banking in New York and then Los Angeles), and Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust (1984-1987: Vice President Corporate Finance). He also served on the Board of Pacific Thrift & Loan, a mid-size bank in Western USA, and was Managing Director of Amray Capital Advisers in Orange County, California (1992-1996).
After returning to Ethiopia in 1996, Ato Ermyas purchased a large edible oil company from the Ethiopian Privatization Agency and partnered in establishing Lovely Biscuits (a dry biscuit manufacturing company). In addition, he co-founded East African Investment Securities (a non-bank financial services and consulting company). He was the founder and lead member of the initiative to establish the Addis Ababa stock exchange. He is best known for the pioneer bottled water company, Highland Springs Mineral Water, which is the leading bottled water company in Ethiopia. Ato Ermyas has moved out of operational management but remains Executive Director, without operating responsibilities, of Ethiopian Ventures Ltd., which operates Highland Springs Mineral Water, Royal Crown Cola soft drinks and a plastic products manufacturing operation. Since 2006, he has focused on the financial services sector and has established Access Capital Services S.C., Zemen Bank S.C., Access Real Estate S.C. and Access Leasing S.C. (under formation). The combined number of personnel employed by Ato Ermyas’ companies is over 1,600 full-time employees.

His academic qualifications include: MBA in Finance from Boston University, Graduate School of Management (1984), MA in International Economics from Boston University, Graduate School of Economics (1982), and BA in Economics and Political Science from Amherst College (1980). 

Haile Leul Tamiru, Director

Haile Leul Tamiru is a Certified Public Accountant with rich experience over 16 years in auditing and consulting private companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and programs and projects funded by government and NGOs in the USA and Ethiopia. Auditing work includes enterprises up for privatization in Ethiopia. He is the Senior Partner and founding member of HST (now Deloitte) and he has previously worked as a sole proprietor of a business. He has worked with international teams on financial audits, compliance audits, management consulting and analyzing organizational structures and operational efficiency for a wide range of organizations, including trade associations and strengthening the capacity of a Chamber of Commerce. Haile Leul brings computer skills to his work, including installation and training given on comprehensive financial reporting systems. Education qualifications include a BSC degree in Accounting and Economics from California State University and he is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).

Yoseph Asrat, Director

Yoseph Asrat is CEO in ECBG Group of Companies. ECBG is extensively engaged in construction-related activities. Under his leadership, the business started as a small-scale machinery rental private company a decade ago and now owns 5 companies, i.e. ECBG Con (a GC 1 Construction Company), Kingong Orientrac PLC (a machinery rental company), JAB Rock Drilling and Blasting PLC (engaged in a drilling, blasting and machinery hire), JAB Stone Gravel PLC (engaged in manufacturing crushed gravel and related products), and Inter ET PLC (runs road marking and furnishing activities).

Before moving to Ethiopia, he was in Canada, as the principal franchisee of Gateway Newstands, a 500-store chain in North America. Currently, Yoseph represents the Principals of Gateway Newstands and its affiliates in the Middle East, especially in the U.A.E., as a full partner and Manager of Foreign Business Development.

Internationally, he has appeared before the International Chamber of Commerce as a witness for the Ethiopian Roads Authority on a case litigated between the Ethiopian Government and a French contractor. Yoseph still owns a business in Toronto. His academic qualifications include an Accounting Diploma from the Commercial College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and a Management Diploma from SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary, Canada.

Eskinder Joseph, Director

Eskinder started his career at Ethiopian Airlines, working as an airline pilot for two years. He emigrated to the USA to pursue his studies, attending Santa Barbara College, California and Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He worked as a legal clerk at Joel S. Crosby International Law and as a bank officer at Santa Barbara Savings & Loan Bank in California.

Upon his return to Ethiopia, Eskinder became founder and Managing Director of Meskel Flowers Plc, which is the first private cut-flowers and horticultural farm in Ethiopia. He also manages and runs a fleet of refrigerator-mounted trucks providing transport to companies involved in the production and export of cut flowers. At YEMCO Trading PLC, he serves as the Managing Director, providing flower arrangement services to prestigious hotels such as Sheraton Addis, Addis Ababa Hilton and high-end shopping centres such as Novis Supermarket. Also in Beta Associates, he provides advisory services to agricultural firms. Eskinder has a BA degree in Economics and International Studies from Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California. He is a member of the Ethiopian Horticultural Enterprises Association and is a member of the Advisory Board of Ethiopian Children’s Village.