International Executive Service Corps

International Executive Service Corps (IESC) is an international economic-development nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1964 by David Rockefeller, States M. Mead III, Frank Pace, Sol Linowitz, and other prominent American business leaders, the organization was established around the idea that experienced business executives and technical specialists could help strengthen private enterprise and improve living standards in developing economies. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing brand, IESC functions as a development-services organization that delivers donor-funded programs, technical assistance, training, consulting, grants management, and institutional support. IESC's work has covered more than 130 countries over the course of its history, with activity across sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Eurasia, Asia, the Near East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Its programs have addressed trade and competitiveness, financial services, tourism, information and communications technology, health, workforce and business training, public administration, market development, and post-conflict recovery. The organization commonly works with governments, development agencies, financial institutions, commercial organizations, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Projects may combine IESC employees, external consultants, volunteer business experts, local partners, and training institutions. The organization's first board meeting was held in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 1964. The original leadership group included figures associated with major American corporations and institutions, including Chase Manhattan Bank, Burroughs Corporation, Time, Johnson Publishing, Aerojet, Xerox, CBS, and other businesses. After C. D. Jackson died near the beginning of his chairmanship, Frank Pace replaced him. IESC began international operations early in its existence, including a management-advisory assignment in Thailand by 1965. By its twentieth anniversary in 1984, it reported work in 74 developing countries; later descriptions stated that its project-country total had grown to more than 130. A major phase of expansion occurred during the 2010s under chief executive Thomas J. Miller. During that period, IESC managed programs involving diplomacy training in South Sudan, entrepreneurship and private-sector development in Afghanistan, microfinance in Lebanon, export and institutional programs in Ethiopia, trade access in Tunisia, technology and communications work through Geekcorps in Mali, commercial development in Morocco, and small-business finance and resilience in Liberia. In 2012, it received a reported $105 million award for the Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises program, described as its largest award at that time. The program sought to help Afghan firms grow through business advice, technical support, and public-private partnerships. IESC also maintains a connection with Geekcorps, a division focused on applying information and communications technology expertise in underserved communities. Geekcorps volunteers supported communications infrastructure and radio-station work in remote areas of Mali. Across its broader portfolio, IESC emphasizes practical assistance to entrepreneurs and institutions rather than direct commercial investment. Its stated long-term objective is to improve living standards by making private enterprise, public institutions, and local economic systems more capable and resilient. The organization has stated that its projects have helped create or preserve more than 1.5 million jobs, although this is an organizationally reported cumulative claim rather than a separately audited financial or employment statistic in the supplied sources.

International Executive Service Corps was created in 1964 by a group of American business leaders who believed that private-sector expertise could contribute to economic development abroad. The founders included David Rockefeller, States M. Mead III, Frank Pace, and Sol Linowitz. The first board meeting took place in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 1964, and brought together executives and institutional leaders from banking, manufacturing, publishing, media, aerospace, and communications. C. D. Jackson initially served as chairman, but died during the opening days of his chairmanship and was succeeded by Frank Pace. IESC began international operations soon afterward. By 1965, it was working in Thailand, where Raytheon executive Ray Ellis served as a management adviser to T. S. Lin, president of Tatung Engineering Company. The organization's early model centered on deploying experienced executives and specialists to advise local companies and institutions. Over time, that model broadened into structured economic-development programs involving training, consulting, market access, finance, policy, grants, and institutional reform. In 1972, IESC representatives visited the Malacañang Palace in the Philippines for a meeting connected with President Ferdinand Marcos. By 1984, when IESC observed its twentieth anniversary, it reported activity in 74 developing countries. Later accounts stated that the number of countries in which it had carried out projects had risen to more than 130. Its geographic reach came to include Africa, Europe and Eurasia, Asia and the Near East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The organization developed expertise in trade competitiveness, financial services, tourism, information and communications technology, health, business training, public administration, market development, institution building, and conflict and post-conflict management. It also worked directly with micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them improve management, access finance, reach markets, and build business relationships. Training workshops, seminars, professional exchanges, and volunteer assignments remained recurring delivery methods. During the 2010s, IESC publicized a series of programs reflecting this broad portfolio. In South Sudan, it trained diplomatic officials and supported the development of the foreign ministry after independence. In Afghanistan, its ABADE program used technical assistance, business consulting, and public-private partnerships to support enterprise growth. In Lebanon, the LIM program worked with microfinance institutions and small-business owners. In Ethiopia, IESC implemented multiple USAID programs focused on exports, institutional capacity, and access to finance. In Tunisia and Morocco, it supported trade and commercial-development organizations. In Liberia, the IBEX program advised small and medium-sized firms and helped them address financing and crisis-related challenges, including the effects of the Ebola outbreak. Technology-related work was represented by Geekcorps, an IESC division. Its volunteers helped build or refurbish radio stations in remote areas of Mali and supported access to communications and internet services. IESC also partnered with AARP and the Chinese government on a program that deployed senior business executives as volunteer experts. Thomas J. Miller became chief executive officer in 2010. Reference material described substantial organizational budget growth during the first years of his leadership and highlighted the Afghanistan award as the largest in IESC's history at the time. In 1998, founder David Rockefeller received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton, with the award recognizing his public service and contributions that included the creation of IESC. The organization celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2014. Its continuing mission is to improve living standards by strengthening private enterprise and the institutions that support local economic opportunity.

• 2014

  Fiftieth anniversary

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  IESC holds a May reception marking 50 years of international economic-development work.

• 2012

  ABADE award in Afghanistan

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  IESC and VEGA receive a reported $105 million award for a major Afghan enterprise-development program.

• 2010

  Thomas J. Miller becomes chief executive

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  Ambassador Thomas J. Miller takes over as IESC's chief executive officer.

• 1998

  David Rockefeller receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  President Bill Clinton awards David Rockefeller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his public service and contributions including the creation of IESC.

• 1984

  Twentieth anniversary

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  At its twentieth anniversary, IESC reports work in 74 developing countries.

• 1965

  Early Thailand assignment

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  IESC operates in Thailand and assigns Raytheon executive Ray Ellis as a management adviser to Tatung Engineering Company.

• 1964

  IESC is founded

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  David Rockefeller, States M. Mead III, Frank Pace, Sol Linowitz, and other American business leaders establish the International Executive Service Corps.

• 1964

  First board meeting

  [1]International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  IESC holds its first board meeting in Washington, D.C., on June 15, bringing together leaders from major American corporations and institutions.

An international nonprofit development-services provider that uses business expertise, technical assistance, training, volunteer professionals, and partnerships to strengthen private enterprise and economic institutions.

• Enterprise development program · 2012

  Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises

  Known as ABADE, this program was implemented by IESC in collaboration with the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance. It aimed to help Afghan entrepreneurs and businesses grow through technical assistance, business consulting, and the facilitation of public-private partnerships in selected sectors of the Afghan economy.

• Microfinance development program · 2009

  Lebanon Investment in Microfinance

  The USAID-funded LIM program supported Lebanese microfinance institutions and helped small-business owners obtain financing for expansion. IESC administered grants and worked with local financial institutions to broaden access to microloans and support employment.

• SME finance and resilience program

  Liberia Investing for Business Expansion

  The IBEX program provided advice, mentoring, and assistance in obtaining bank loans for Liberian small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in construction, agriculture, general merchandise, and trade. It also incorporated crisis-mitigation support during the Ebola period.

• Technology and communications initiative

  Geekcorps

  Geekcorps is an IESC division that applies technology expertise in underserved communities. Its volunteers worked on communications infrastructure, including building or refurbishing radio stations near the Sahara in Mali, with the broader goal of improving access to information and internet connectivity.

• 2013

  Deploy senior business executives as volunteer experts in ChinaStrategy

  Background

  IESC partnered with AARP and the Chinese government to use experienced business leaders as a source of practical expertise.

  Action taken

  The partners began a program deploying senior executive volunteers to support organizations and businesses in China.

  Source

• 2012

  Expand enterprise-development work in AfghanistanStrategy

  Background

  IESC sought to strengthen Afghan private enterprise and selected economic sectors through a large donor-funded program implemented with VEGA.

  Action taken

  IESC and VEGA undertook the ABADE program, combining technical assistance, business consulting, and public-private partnership development.

  Aftermath

  The award was described in the supplied reference material as IESC's largest at the time.

  Program award. $105 million (2012)

  Source

1. 1International Executive Service Corpsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Executive Service Corps official websiteiesc.org