Enactus Announces Board Leadership Transitions
Enactus is excited to announce several changes to its global board leadership. After many years of dedicated service on the Enactus Board of Directors, Gonzalve Bich, CEO of BIC Corporation, and Michael Moore, CEO of Anderson Merchandisers, are transitioning to the Enactus Advisory Board. We are immensely grateful for their long-standing commitment to Enactus and their guidance in shaping the organization’s impact over the years.
“I have been involved in different capacities with Enactus since joining BIC over 20 years ago and my passion for the Enactus mission and positive influence on students has never ceased to grow,” says Bich. “I remain committed to Enactus and its continued impact globally. I will be cheering Enactus on in its next phases, while supporting in this new advisory capacity.”
Michael Moore has also continued to be a champion of Enactus’ work throughout his career, most recently exemplified by his organization’s sponsorship of the Enactus USA Expo in May.
Simultaneously, we are thrilled to have Ian Aitken, who has over 30 years’ experience in investing and entrepreneurship, step in as the new Chair of the Enactus Global Board. “Enactus is entering an exciting next stage in partnership with Resolution Project,” he says. “We are building a strong team to support this important work of driving entrepreneurial action worldwide. I am honored to be leading the board during such a pivotal time of growth.” Ian is the Vice Chair of Pembroke Management Ltd and the Founder and Board Chair of Enactus Canada.
Additionally, Letitia de Wet, CEO & Country Director of Enactus South Africa, is joining as a new member of the Enactus Global Board of Directors. Letitia has been an exceptional leader in advancing entrepreneurship education through her work with Enactus South Africa and the national Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education initiative.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our outgoing board members and are grateful they will remain involved in a new capacity. We eagerly anticipate the fresh insights Ian will contribute in his new role, along with the unique viewpoint Letitia will provide as she joins the team, to help steer Enactus’ mission and amplify its global impact. This is an exciting new chapter as Enactus continues driving entrepreneurial action for a better world.
Read Ian and Letitia’s full bios below:
Ian Aitken (Chair, Enactus Global), Vice Chair, Pembroke Management Ltd., Board Chair, Enactus Canada
Ian has been passionate about investing and entrepreneurship for more than thirty years and has put these interests to good use at Pembroke. A realistic optimist who understands the significant value that effective entrepreneurs can create for shareholders, Ian has contributed to Pembroke’s portfolios for more than three decades and has turned his passions into his profession. Ian considers himself very fortunate to work with a dedicated multi-generational team and is personally committed to serving the long-term investment needs of Pembroke’s clients. Ian is also committed to his family, friends and the broader community and he serves on the boards of several charities and foundations with a focus on education, investments, and entrepreneurship.
After working for Pembroke for several years while at University, Ian joined Pembroke Management on a full-time basis in 1987 and served as Managing Partner from 2000 to 2023. Ian was awarded a Meritorious Service Cross by The Governor General of Canada in 2017 for his work with Enactus and his contribution to entrepreneurship education in Canada.
Letitia de Wet (Board Member, Enactus Global), Chief Executive Officer & Country Director, Enactus South Africa NPC
Letitia is an entrepreneur at heart and established her own enterprise in strategic marketing communications in 2003. However, with her passion to work with youth, Letitia joined Enactus South Africa NPC in 2006 as Chief Executive Officer and Country Director. During her tenure at Enactus, Letitia made significant progress towards operating a best-in- class non-profit organization. Enactus South Africa’s growth and program impact are driven by the organization’s overall strength and its national footprint. Under her leadership, Enactus South Africa was globally acknowledged since 2007 as global top performing country operation, and for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) were acknowledged as the only country among 45 at the time, to achieve a full country index score. She was also the first to be recognized for exceptional leadership as inaugural recipient of the global “Jack Shewmaker Leadership Award” in 2011. Letitia continues to lead student entrepreneurship development in higher education. For years she has been an advocate for the compulsory introduction and offering of Entrepreneurial skills development to all university students in South Africa.
She was directly involved, as a member of the Steering Committee for Entrepreneurship Development (EDHE) in Higher Education that led to the establishment of the fully supported Division by the Ministry of Higher Education in South Africa. Letitia was awarded in 2019 by the National Department of Higher Education for her significant contribution in advancing the National agenda for Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education and the role she played in advancing entrepreneurship in universities in South Africa.
Media contact: partnerships@enactus.org
About Enactus
For nearly 50 years, Enactus has educated young people around the world how to use innovation and entrepreneurship to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Long before notions of corporate social responsibility, stakeholder capitalism, or environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting hit the mainstream, Enactus trained young people to use business as a force for good. Originally founded in 1975 as a U.S. nonprofit organization, Enactus expanded in 1995 and now operates as a locally-rooted, globally informed network across six continents. Since its founding, Enactus students have created more than 75,000 projects and businesses, benefiting millions of people.