Nii Simmonds is a leader in Emerging and Frontier Markets with extensive experience in Emerging Technologies and Innovation Commercialization in a variety of global markets. Nii’s senior leadership experience in complex emerging and frontier markets is valued by private and public sector executives. Nii works with early-stage ecosystems as a venture adviser, board observer, and EIR in various capacities. Nii additionally advises and provides thought leadership on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, as well as their impact on society in terms of innovation, policy, and accelerating impactful solutions to challenges.
Nii has previous management and P&L responsibility with billion-dollar brands at Fortune 500 companies (Big Pharma & Biotech, Consumer Products, and Strategy Consulting). These roles have focused on strategic and long-term planning for various business units, and advising C-Level executives on growth strategy, product development, joint-venture and competitive strategy for brand and product categories.
Nii has worked and consulted globally for The World Bank Group, African Development Bank (AfDB), US State Department, and European Commission (EC) in the private sector and entrepreneurship development. Nii was the architect of The World Bank’s African Diaspora private sector engagement program under the Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice; focused on creating employment opportunities through supply chain integration for SMEs and early-stage enterprises in Africa by engaging African Diaspora professionals. In addition, Nii has been a thought leader in creating supply chain supplier programs to integrate OEM suppliers in frontier and emerging markets who have disruptive, innovative solutions or products that can scale to global supply chains. Furthermore, Nii focuses on early-stage venture building and integrating SMEs/suppliers to global supply chains for shared value.