François Baird is an Africa expert, leader, trusted advisor and entrepreneur.
He writes and speaks about energy, security and African affairs. In addition to business and government consulting across Africa, as a political and election advisor since 1988, he has managed election campaigns for President Chiluba of Zambia, for President Chissano in Mozambique and advised on numerous election campaigns in various other African countries.
He consults to boards, top management and leaders internationally on problem solving, strategy, issues and communication. He has served clients in the USA, Africa, India, Europe and the Middle East.
He has worked in a range of sectors including energy, mining, development, ICT, health, financial services, agriculture, consumer, and education. He has a special interest in developing countries and institutions.
Notable energy experience: Soekor, Mossgas, Total, Sasol, Shell, Transnet pipelines, Eskom, Hitachi.
Notable mining experience: Anglo American Vaal Reefs, Gold Fields, Gencor, Konkola Copper Mines, Vedanta Resources Limited, Anglo Platinum, Truegold, Debswana, De Beers.
Notable Education & Development Experience: Stellenbosch University, Cornwall Hill School, Curro, Presidential Precinct, The Montpelier Foundation, Unilever Foundation, Sukuma Trust, FairPlay Movement, Airborne Lifeline Foundation
Not-for-profit: François is the founder of the FairPlay anti-dumping trade movement, and the Good Hope Wine Club in Washington DC. As a Board member he serves on the Board of the Presidential Precinct and is an advisor to its Young Africa Leaders Initiative (YALI) program and Airborne Lifeline. In addition, he advises the founder of the Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum, a global NGO.
Business: founder and chairman of Baird’s CMC Ltd, Baird’s US LLC and Calbridge Investments (Pty) Ltd. Baird’s CMC is an international communications management consultancy with 47 partners across the world. He is Co-Chairman, Africa of Taylor Advisories, the boutique American M&A firm.
Career: François is an American citizen who was born in South Africa, grew up on a farm in its Northwest province, started his career on the gold mines, attained a degree in international politics and political science at the University of Pretoria and served as a commissioned officer in the SA Air Force. He founded his own business in 1987, following various corporate management positions at Gold Fields of SA, Small Business Development Corporation and Sappi, the South African multi-national forestry products company. He is emeritus Chairman of Africa, of Daniel J Edelman Inc and emeritus Board member of The Montpelier Foundation, where he served a term as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairman.