MicroRate- Washington D.C.
Damian von Stauffenberg, Founder & Chairman
Damian founded MicroRate, the first rating agency to specialize in microfinance, in 1997 and served as its CEO until 2009. MicroRate was designed to provide transparency and in that way attract commercial funding sources to microfinance. Prior to starting MicroRate, Damian worked with the World Bank and its private sector affiliate, the International Finance Corporation for 25 years. Damian is widely referred to as a pioneer of the microfinance industry and continues to develop new ideas for promoting its growth. Damian von Stauffenberg biography
Sebastian von Stauffenberg, Managing Director & CEO
Sebastian joined the MicroRate in 2003 and later moved to Lima to serve as the General Manager of the Latin American & Caribbean office. In addition to conducting ratings and managing one of MicroRate’s 4 international branches, Sebastian directs new product development and microfinance investor services. Sebastian became the Managing Director & CEO of MicroRate shortly after his return to the U.S. office in the beginning of 2009. Sebastian holds an MBA from Georgetown University (Washington, DC). Prior to joining MicroRate, Sebastian taught philosophy and theology and was a senior consultant for Arthur Andersen in Germany. Sebastian von Stauffenberg biography
Maritza Rodriguez, Global Methodology Manager
Prior to joining MicroRate in 2000, Maritza served as an accountant and internal auditor for 14 years at Caja Municipal of Piura, one of the largest microfinance institutions in Peru. Until 2008, she served as a Senior Analyst and Operations Manager at MicroRate’s office in Lima. She has directly been involved in over 170 MFIs ratings and evaluations of MFIs throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. Applying her extensive experience, Maritza is a member of MicroRate’s International Rating Committee and she manages MicroRate’s global rating methodology. Maritza holds an MBA and is fluent in English and Spanish.
MicroRate- Lima, Peru
Maria Belén Effio, General Manager
Maria joined MicroRate as an analyst at the beginning of 2003 and is now the General Manager of MicroRate’s Latin America and Caribbean office. Prior to joining MicroRate, Maria was an economist working in the banking sector with small business credit. She also worked with investment portfolios and microfinance evaluations. Maria holds degrees in social sciences and economics and has an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Spain. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
MicroRate- Casablanca, Morocco
Hervé Proust, General Manager
Hervé joined MicroRate at the beginning of 2011 to manage MicroRate’s activities in Africa, Europe and Central Asia. Prior to joining MicroRate, Hervé worked for 18 years in the banking and microfinance industry in various regions including Europe, Africa and Asia. A French native, Hervé most recently managed a greenfield MFI in Cameroon for over 3 years. He holds a masters in Accounting Finance and Law from INTEC Paris and an MBA from IAE Nantes (France). Hervé is fluent in French and English with a conversational knowledge of German.
