Business Services Industry
BearingPoint Hires Former Ambassadors John Blaney and Thomas Hull
Business Wire, June 11, 2008
State Department Veterans to Help Drive BearingPoint's Focus on Africa
MCLEAN, Va. -- BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE:BE), one of the world's largest management and technology consulting firms, today announced it has hired two former U.S. Ambassadors, John Blaney and Thomas Hull, as senior strategic advisors for its Public Services Emerging Markets practice as the company places greater emphasis on growing opportunities throughout the African continent. Both men bring a wealth of understanding and experience that will strengthen BearingPoint's ability to continue serving a variety of clients, as corporations, governments and multilateral organizations increase focus on aid, growth and stabilization projects throughout Africa.
Earlier this year, the U.S. government pledged to increase total African assistance to $8.7 billion by 2010, double the level of assistance in 2004. From programs to help curb the spread of AIDS and malaria (PEDFAR and PMI), to economic growth programs and the creation of a new Department of Defense command (AFRICOM), the United States is involved in a mix of projects that bridge health care, defense, and development programs - three key areas where BearingPoint has significant expertise.
From 1995-1999, John Blaney was the Department of State's Country Director for Southern Africa, where he directed policy for 10 countries in that region. He also acted as U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires in South Africa before serving as United States Ambassador to Liberia from September 2002 to July 2005. As ambassador, Blaney successfully led U.S. efforts to assist in ending the civil war in Liberia and in promoting a democratic transition of government. Prior to joining BearingPoint, Blaney was an adviser to the banking and investment community on Wall Street.
Tom Hull was a career diplomat who joined the Foreign Service in 1976 specializing in public diplomacy. Hull served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Addis Ababa, and had African assignments in Pretoria, Lagos, Mogadishu, Ouagadougou, and Kinshasa. He was also Director of African Affairs at the United States Information Agency in Washington prior to its merger with the Department of State. Hull served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone from August 2004 to August 2007, where he contributed to post-conflict peace building, including enabling the country's first democratic transfer of power from one elected civilian president to another.
"Having former ambassadors Blaney and Hull join the BearingPoint team enhances our ability to continue delivering against meaningful technology and consulting projects in Africa," said James Horner, senior vice president for BearingPoint's Emerging Markets practice. "Many of our clients have unique needs that require an understanding of the interplay between diplomacy, development, health care and defense, areas in which John and Tom have deep knowledge and experience."
BearingPoint has a long history in the region, including work in 26 of Sub-Saharan Africa's 45 countries. As widely-respected experts on African affairs, Blaney and Hull will use their deep local knowledge to continue to serve the people of Africa, as they help BearingPoint build and grow on previous success.
"There is a new 21st century Africa emerging," said Ambassador Blaney. "While progress is gradual and certainly not uniform, BearingPoint has the knowledge to help address many of the obstacles to growth and development."
"I've spent the majority of my career in Africa, and am pleased to join BearingPoint to help bolster its focus on the region," said Ambassador Hull. "In many countries there has been major progress made establishing the political and economic framework for growth; in this new position, I hope to encourage and further foster that process."
About BearingPoint, Inc.
BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE:BE) is one of the world's largest providers of management and technology consulting services to Global 2000 companies and government organizations in more than 60 countries worldwide. Based in McLean, Va., the firm has more than 16,000 employees focusing on the Public Services, Commercial Services and Financial Services industries. BearingPoint professionals have built a reputation for knowing what it takes to help clients achieve their goals, and working closely with them to get the job done. Our service offerings are designed to help our clients generate revenue, increase cost-effectiveness, manage regulatory compliance, integrate information and transition to "next-generation" technology. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at www.BearingPoint.com.
Some of the statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections. Words such as "will," "expects," "believes" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events or our future financial performance that may not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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