Didier Acouetey

Didier Acouetey is the President and Founder of the AfricSearch Group since 1996, the first international recruitment and Human Resources consulting firm specializing in Africa. In partnership with Alexander Hughes, an international Executive Search firm, the AFRICSEARCH-ALEXANDER HUGHES Group operates in more than 50 countries.

As a business advisor to several major corporations and African Governments, Didier focuses on economic transformation, job creation, and the growth of African corporate champions. He has been an advocate for youth empowerment, especially in the agriculture sector, promoting access to financing and industrialization to create sustainable food systems and address employment challenges on the continent.

In 2012, Didier co-founded the first Africa South East Asia Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. The Chamber promotes business partnerships and best practices between African and Southeast Asian private sectors.

In 2014, he launched the African SME Forum, in partnership with several African and international financial institutions. The forum, held annually, supports the growth of SMEs in Africa and brings together 500 business leaders, public sector decision-makers, DFIs, and financial institutions. Through this forum, he has consistently championed the role of agriculture as a driver for SME growth and economic development.

Didier has published numerous articles on business in Africa and contributed to books on Globalization and Management Practices in Africa. His thought leadership in agriculture, industrialization, and financing aligns with his mission to build resilient African economies.

A graduate of the Arts et Métiers School in Paris, Didier holds an MBA from ESCP EAP, one of the top French business schools. He has also completed high-level programs on strategy and management, including at Harvard Business School.