Yvonne Manzi Makolo Andrew is a Rwandan IT specialist and , who serves as the

managing director A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

and

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especial ...

Rwandair RwandAir Limited is the flag carrier airline of Rwanda. It operates domestic and international services to East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, from its main base at Kigali International ...

, the national airline of Rwanda. She was appointed to that position on 6 April 2018. Prior to that, she served as the Deputy CEO responsible for corporate affairs at the same airline, from April 2017 until April 2018.

Background and education

She was born in Rwanda. In 1993, she voluntarily migrated to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. Ten years later, in 2003 she returned to her native Rwanda. She and her older sister were raised by a single mother, Yvonne's father having died when the daughters were very young. Her sister is the Rwandan government spokeswoman ''Yolande Makolo''. Makolo has specialized training in

information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of Data (computing), data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information te ...

and has worked as a software developer, both in Canada and Rwanda.

Career

In 2006, she joined MTN Rwanda, a leading telecommunications service provider in the country. Over time, she rose through the ranks to the position of

chief marketing officer A chief marketing officer (CMO), also called a global marketing officer or marketing director, or chief brand officer, is a corporate executive responsible for managing marketing activities in an organization. Whilst historically these titles may ...

(CMO) and also concurrently served as the

(CEO), in an acting capacity. In April 2017, when the Cabinet of Rwanda made management changes at Rwandair, Makolo was appointed Deputy CEO, responsible for Corporate Affairs. One year later, in another managerial change at the national airline, she was appointed to the position of managing director and chief executive officer at Rwandair. In November 2021, Makolo was interviewed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). During that interview, she was asked what it will take for African aviation to revive. She believes governments must provide more support for aviation. "However, this does not always imply financial assistance".

Other responsibilities

Makolo is a mother of young children.

Awards and recognition

In June 2022, Makolo was recognized by the International Hospitality Institute on the Global 100 in Hospitality, a list featuring the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Hospitality.

References

External links