Earl Sampson

Commercial Head Africa, Vivo Energy

Earl Sampson works at Vivo Energy, where he heads up the Commercial Business across the continent.  Previous to Vivo Energy, he spent 3 years as Country Director TechnoServe South Africa where he successfully turned around the South Africa business to being fully funded through multiple sources, and actively negotiated and delivered small emerging farmer contracts to the likes of Massmart, Woolworths and the likes.  Earl continues to serve on the board of TechnoServe South Africa where TechnoServe currently serve many thousands of small farmers across the country.  Earl’s time at TechnoServe allowed him to test, and in part prove, that there is much to be brought to the work and world of philanthropy and public service through the experience gained in the corporate world.
Prior to TechnoServe, Earl had a long and successful career with Shell Oil Company and served long term assignments in Venezuela and the United Kingdom.
Earl spent 2 years in Central America, Panama, where he interfaced and also graduated as a CALI fellow with the Central American Leadership Initiative.  Earl currently holds current directorships in Gulfstream Energy, JP Morgan’s Philanthropy Project C4G, Vivo Energy South Africa and Mozambique.
He was born in Athlon in the Western Cape and is committed to supporting change and growth in a new South Africa.  He is a Fellow of the third class of the Africa Leadership Initiative-South Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.