Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Utkin is an experienced manager who has successful management experience in the spheres of ITC, energy and social entrepreneurship. His main areas of expertise lie in business development, finance, operations, strategy and external relations.
Prior to West African Synergies, Michael in various management positions at an ITC company, mostly engaged in sales and marketing of software products and solutions. After that Michael has moved to social and cultural projects. He was one of the shareholders of a regional music recording company and took part in creating a unique cultural and education centre. In 2008 Michael continued his career as a CFO a public utility company.
Michael is a graduate of King’s College London and after that had various executive courses in leading business schools.
Managing Director of West African Synergies BV
As a Managing Director, Dr McGovern is involved with public and government relations and oversees corporate social responsibility function.
Dr McGovern graduated from Glasgow University in Scotland with a degree in languages and philosophy. After completing a doctoral degree at the University of Oxford he founded a private school in Oxford, the main focus of which was language.
Although Frank McGovern’s background is largely in the cultural field, he also has extensive experience of business. In addition to founding and directing the private school in Oxford (referred to above) he has also created a language school in Ireland, and an aviation company for the purchase and sale of Russian aircraft: Red Flying Machines. Frank is also an amateur pilot, and regularly ‘ferried’ aircraft from Russia to England in the 1990’s.