MICROCAPITAL.ORG STORY: Unitus Hires Dr. Brigit Helms as New CEO

Unitus Inc., a Seattle based microfinance group, has hired Dr. Brigit Helms as its new chief executive. Dr. Helms will replace Geoff Davis, who stepped down as Unitus CEO in July 2008.[1]

Dr. Helms comes to Unitus from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Jakarta, where she was the head of the Advisory Services. She was responsible for developing a five-year country strategy aiming to help 40 million Indonesians by facilitating USD 15 billion in investments. Immediately prior to joining the IFC, she spent 10 years with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) as a member of the organization’s management team. Dr. Helms has also spent time with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce. She is authored a book titled, “Access for All: Building Inclusive Financial Systems”. Dr. Helms earned a Ph.D. in Development and Agricultural Economics from Stanford University, and master’s degrees from Stanford and John Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. Microcapital.org summarizes one of Brigit’s past papers on the future of microfinance here.[2]

Unitus is an international non-profit organization established in early 2000. The organization partners with “young, high-potential microfinance institutions, helping them build capacity, attract, and unite with the greater partner network to achieve rapid, sustainable growth.” Unitus works with partners throughout India and Southeast Asia, East Africa, Mexico, and South America [3]. As of December 2008, Unitus had total investments of USD 11, 750, 185, and total assets of USD 21,380,060 [4]. See more coverage of Microcapital.org’s coverage of Unitus in bibliography sections [5]-[8]

By Kenny Kline, Research Associate

Additional Resources:

[1] Puget Sound Business Journal, by Clay Holtzman, “Unitus hires poverty expert as new CEO”

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/10/26/daily13.html

[2] PRWeb, “Unitus, Inc. Announces Dr. Brigit Helms as Chief Executive Officer”

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/10/prweb3112784.htm

[3] Unitus
http://www.unitus.com/news-and-information/latest-updates/jamii-bora-staff-member-profiled-in-mf-insights

[4] Unitus
http://tributes.unitus.com/AR/downloads/Unitus_AR_PDF_download.pdf

[5] MICROCAPITAL.ORG STORY: Microfinance Institutions Jamii Bora Trust and Unitus Team Up to Build Eco-Friendly Town in Kenya

[6] NEWS WIRE: Kenya: Seattle Times Interviews Resident of Town Built by Microfinance Institution Jamii Bora Trust, With Support from Unitus

[7] MICROCAPITAL.ORG STORY: Unitus and Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Collaborate to Increase Use of Social Performance Management Among Microfinance Institutions

[8] MICROCAPITAL STORY: Grama Vidiyal Micro Finance Limited (GVMFL) Raises USD 4.25 million from MicroVest, Unitus Equity Fund, and Amar Foundation