H.E. Henok Teferra Shawl obtained a Master’s degree in International Public and Private Law from the University of Nice in 1997 and a post-graduate degree in International Economic Law from the University of Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris I in 1998. From 2000 to 2001, he worked as a developer-engineer at SYLIS S.A. in Paris, France. Between 2003 and 2010, he was appointed Third, then Second and finally First Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. He worked in the Departments of African Affairs, Legal Affairs and the Minister’s Office on bilateral and multilateral political, legal and economic issues. In this capacity, he participated in several international meetings and represented Ethiopia in several international bodies. He has also participated as a legal expert in the ad hoc Committee on disputes between Ethiopia and Eritrea in The Hague, Netherlands. In 2010, he lectured in international trade law at Addis Ababa University, teaching a course on World Trade Organization rules to undergraduate students. From 2010 to 2013, he was Director of Communications and International Affairs at Ethiopian Airlines. From 2013 to 2015, he was appointed Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Communications and Alliances at Ethiopian Airlines, a member of the Board of Directors of ASKY Airlines, and a member of the Star Alliance Management Board. He helped implement Ethiopian Airlines’ strategy for rapid, profitable and sustainable growth, Vision 2025, which increased the airline’s revenue from $1.3 billion in 2010 to $2.5 billion in 2014. He represented the airline in the negotiation of bilateral service agreements with more than fifty governments in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania, which improved the airline’s operating conditions and traffic rights. From 2013 to 2014, he led the project that established Malawian Airlines as a financial, technical and commercial partner of Ethiopian Airlines. H.E. Henok Teferra Shawl was a member of the senior group of experts on aviation established by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in 2014 to liberalise the African air services market for African airlines, and participated in drafting the decision adopted by African Union Heads of State in January 2015 to establish the Single African Air Transport Market. From May 2015 to September 2016, he was Chief Executive Officer of ASKY Airlines. He defined a five-year growth strategy (2015-2020) that enabled the company to post a profit for the first time since its creation in 2010. This strategy led to the improvement of global operational security standards with IOSA certification. In November 2017, he was reappointed Vice President for Strategic Planning and Alliances at Ethiopian Airlines, a member of the Board of Directors of ASKY Airlines and the company’s representative on the Star Alliance Management Board. He contributed to the airline’s rapid 25% growth by overseeing the entry into service of one new aircraft per month on average, and the construction of new facilities including a freight terminal, maintenance hangars and a 5-star hotel. He implemented strategic partnerships with the launch of new airlines in Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea and Chad, as well as developing existing partner airlines such as ASKY Airlines and Malawian Airlines. He also fostered commercial cooperation with other airlines, managed relations with government and regulatory authorities to ensure the company’s growth and efficient operation, and boosted public relations and media branding as well as corporate social responsibility activities. H.E. Henok Teferra Shawl has received several awards and recognitions including the Choiseul 100 Africa: Young Economic Leader of the Continent award from the Institut Choiseul in Paris, in October 2015, and the ASKY Airlines: Airline of the Year Award for Regional Operations, in November 2016, from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) for outstanding financial performance and improved connectivity in West Africa. Since December 2018, H.E. Henok Teferra Shawl has been Ambassador of Ethiopia to France, Spain, Portugal and the Holy See and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. He presented his credentials on 12 April 2019.
