World Football Summit (WFS) (https://WorldFootballSummit.com) is pleased to announce Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, as the recipient of the WFS Award for Best Executive in the football industry, presented by Nolan Partners.

The prestigious award recognizes executives who have made significant changes for the benefit of their institution, efficiently utilized resources, and achieved substantial impact relative to their capabilities. Carro’s win comes in the wake of Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten season, resulting in its first-ever Bundesliga and winning the DFB-Pokal, a testament to his exceptional leadership and strategic vision.”

Fernando Carro reflected on his achievement: “I feel honored and delighted to be rewarded with the “Best Executive Award 2024”. It was quite an amazing journey last season, the result of many years of hard work before. I appreciate that the work behind all this has been recognized by the WFS organization. I am grateful and happy to share this with my colleague Simon Rolfes, with Xabi Alonso and the team, and with the whole Bayer 04 family – because everyone there has been a crucial part of our achievements. As football starts from zero every year, our will now is to maintain the level we reached last year.”

Fernando Carro succeeds Ferran Soriano of City Football Group as the winner of this esteemed award.

Marian Otamendi, CEO at World Football Summit, commented on Carro’s achievement: “Ambition, Resilience and Focus are traits Mr. Carro has demonstrated as a leader of Bayer Leverkusen, and these are essential for any football business leader looking to make the industry reach untapped potential.”

The award will be presented during the WFS Awards ceremony, hosted by La Junta de Andalucía, on September 18 in Sevilla.

“Under Fernando’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision, Bayer Leverkusen achieved unprecedented success last year, remaining unbeaten in the Bundesliga and securing two of the most prestigious trophies in German football,” said Chad Biagini, President at Nolan Partners. “Fernando’s profound impact on and off the pitch makes him an exceptionally deserving recipient of this year’s World Football Summit Best Executive Award, and we look forward to his future success.”

This recognition underscores World Football Summit’s commitment to honoring excellence and innovation in football management. The summit continues to be a premier platform for industry leaders to connect, share insights, and shape the future of the beautiful game.

The World Football Summit Awards gala will be celebrated as part of the eighth edition of WFS Europe on September 18th-19th in Sevilla, a premier gathering of the global football industry. This landmark event is set to bring together over 2,500 football industry professionals and decision-makers from around the world. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from an impressive lineup of speakers, including Italian football legend Giorgio Chiellini, LaLiga President Javier Tebas, Hammad Albalawi (Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid), and Toni Nadal, among others. WFS Europe is proudly supported by key partners such as Turkish Airlines, Junta de Andalucía, The Football Business Academy, Scoreplay, Meltwater, Radisson Hotel Group, and LaLiga, with additional representation from leading brands and institutions like Deloitte, the British Embassy, and CaixaBank. The event will also welcome representatives from major football organizations and clubs, including the European Club Association, UEFA, Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC, Real Betis Balompié, Liverpool FC, and Juventus FC, alongside hundreds of other influential entities.

WFS Europe truly embodies the convergence of the entire football industry ecosystem, offering unparalleled networking and insights for all attendees. For more information about the WFS Awards and WFS Europe, please visit https://Europe.WorldFootballSummit.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Football Summit.

For press accreditation and media inquiries, please contact:
Jaime Dominguez
Communications Director
World Football Summit
press@worldfootballsummit.com

For more information, visit World Football Summit (https://WorldFootballSummit.com).

About World Football Summit:
World Football Summit is the premier international event for the football industry, gathering the most influential professionals in the game to address the industry’s most pressing issues and generate business opportunities.

The vibrant spirit of African fashion took centre stage at the inaugural Tranoï Tokyo trade show on September 4-5, where 10 exceptional fashion brands from across Africa and the diaspora showcased their designs as part of Afreximbank’s CANEX Presents Africa initiative (www.Afreximbank.com).

Among the African brands that featured at Tranoï Tokyo are Vanhu Vamwe, a legacy brand from Zimbabwe that has created an ethical framework of luxury handcrafted heirlooms that articulate a strong brand aesthetic based on traditional crafts and modern innovation; The Cloth fashion brand founded in 1986 in Trinidad and Tobago by Creative Director Robert Young; and Shekudo from Nigeria, founded as a women’s clothing brand drawing on heritage, life experiences and a wearable art aesthetic, but relaunched in 2017 into footwear and accessories with bases across the Indian Ocean and production in Lagos, Nigeria.

Others are Dina Shaker of Egypt whose design philosophy is centred around elevating personal style; Adele Dejak, a luxury African fashion jewellery brand based in Nairobi and known for contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship; Katush, also from Kenya, whose brand journey began with the need to investigate how people perceive each other and themselves within history and culture, and how those perceptions translate to the modern day; and ANISSA AIDA, launched by Anissa Meddeb in 2016, featuring a mixing and matching of inspirations from the rich heritage and traditional craftsmanship of both her Tunisian roots and her fascination for Japan.

Also showcasing their creations are JUDY SANDERSON, a Portugal based women’s ready-to-wear brand founded by South African designer Judy Sanderson; Fozia Endrias, an ethical casual wear brand based in Addis Ababa; and Emmy Kasbit, a Nigerian sustainable fashion brand founded in 2014 by Creative Director Emmanuel Okoro and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Olurin.

Commenting on the event, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, said that Afreximbank’s participation at Tranoï Tokyo through CANEX reflected the Bank’s broad strategy to promote African talent on the global stage and to drive the development of African creatives.

“We are using CANEX at  Tranoï Tokyo to position Afreximbank as a leader in supporting Africa’s creative industries by facilitating linkages between designers and industry stakeholders, including buyers, investors, manufacturers and the press, providing them with opportunities to access new markets to increase trade and facilitating  the integration of the African fashion industry into the global value chain,” said Mrs. Awani.

Emphasising Afreximbank’s commitment to supporting Africa’s creative economy, Mrs. Awani urged African and international designers, buyers and media to attend the CANEX WKND 2024 scheduled to take place in Algiers from 16 to19 October, saying that it would provide a unique platform for facilitating business, investment, collaboration, partnerships and inspiration amongst creatives.

CANEX Presents Africa provides emerging fashion designers with a platform for development through the  transfer of skills, linkages and partnerships as well as  market access opportunities aimed at equipping the participants with skills for creating financially sustainable businesses capable of being scaled.

The inaugural CANEX Presents Africa event took place in  Porto, Portugal in October 2021 and featured 20 African designers. To date, 80 designers from 27 African countries and the Diaspora have benefited from the initiative.

The Tranoï Tokyo show successfully attracted a total of 3,499 visitors in just two days, bringing together influential buyers from Japan and an international audience from Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and China. With 170 avant-garde brands and designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 25 collections and affirming a resolutely committed positioning.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contacts:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
vmusumba@afreximbank.com  

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About Afreximbank: 
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Canon Europe (www.Canon-Europe.com) today announces the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM, a constant aperture zoom lens, designed to be the ideal choice for those looking to unlock greater creativity and achieve higher quality images without compromising on portability. The new lightweight lens is the perfect step up for photographers wanting to upgrade their kit bag, enabling users to broaden their creative possibilities as well as elevating storytelling capabilities. 

Designed for a variety of shooting scenarios, from portraiture to street and travel, the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM empowers users to capture creative portraits with beautifully blurred backgrounds in any lighting condition. The fast f/2.8 fixed aperture is ideal for shooting in low light conditions, capturing everything from fading ‘blue hour’ light to dimly lit indoor scenes. The RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM delivers on excellent image quality, utilising the wider benefits of the EOS R System such as the large diameter mount and Canon’s renowned optical technologies. Built with reliability in mind, particularly in rough conditions, this weather resistant lens can also take on more challenging adventures with its optical image stabilisation of up to 5.5 stops1 . 

Measuring a mere 92.2mm in length when retracted and weighing 490g, this latest lens is among the lightest of its kind. With a significant weight reduction compared to previous lens options, it deserves a permanent place in any creative storyteller’s kit bag. Boasting capabilities that enable users to stay fully immersed in the moment, the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM offers swift adjustments to shutter speed, aperture or ISO on the move using the versatile Control/Focus ring.  

Paired with any of Canon’s compact full-frame cameras in the EOS R System range, such as the EOS R8, it provides a lightweight, travel-friendly solution with superb low light performance and the ability to capture everyday moments with stunning clarity and depth. 

For more information about this lens, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/3XnShi7

1 Measured according to CIPA 2024 standard. Centre 5.5 stops (yaw/pitch directions) at a focal length of 70mm using an EOS R8. Coordinated control using In Body IS x Optical IS provides an image stabilisation effect of 7.5 stops (centre) and 7.0 stops (corner) (yaw/pitch/roll directions) at a focal length of 70mm using EOS R1. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact  
Canon Central and North Africa  
Mai Youssef  
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com   

APO Group – PR Agency  
Rania ElRafie  
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com  

About Canon Central and North Africa  
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.  

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.  

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3XkI1Hj) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.  

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com  

Liquid Intelligent Technologies (www.Liquid.Tech), a business of Cassava Technologies, a leading technology company of African heritage, has announced the addition of an exciting new cyber security solution to the stable of products offered through its Cyber Security Fusion Centres (CSFC).

 Aimed at providing customers with a more holistic cyber security proposition, the solution will see features such as asset management, risk remediation, patch management and compliance support incorporated into Liquid’s existing cloud security services.

“With the rate at which digital transformation is advancing, companies need to regularly upgrade their cyber security strategies. Cyber-criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and Liquid is constantly investing in innovative solutions aimed at keeping pace with these ever-evolving threats and offering customers the assurance that their systems are secure. Our Cyber Security Fusion Centres provide the perfect platform from which to manage these risks for our customers,” said Adil El Youssefi, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies: Rest of Africa.

Compliance support is also an essential element of any cyber security strategy, and the new offering enables Liquid to assist businesses in meeting local and international regulatory requirements, with the ability to customise solutions to fit any compliance landscape, and regional data protection laws.

By leveraging its local infrastructure and cloud expertise, Liquid is uniquely positioned to deliver these solutions across East Africa. The company’s Azure stacks in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda ensure businesses can remain compliant with local regulations while accessing world-class cloud and security services. Supporting this, its CSFCs provide both enterprise and SME customers with tailored support across cyber security, cloud, and networks for end-to-end security.

With the addition of these new solutions to the already existing portfolio including L3-L7 DDoS Mitigation, Virtual CISO, Managed Security Services, Liquid can help its customers manage and safeguard their cyber assets more effectively, while offering proactive threat detection and prevent cyberattacks.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

About Liquid Intelligent Technologies:
Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group with operations in over 25 countries in Africa. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 110,000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent. For more information, visit https://www.Liquid.Tech/