Stephen A. Newton Esq. is Chairman of The Illuminate Africa Group Ltd., a firm assisting businesses in their African expansion goals. Previously the Founder & CEO, he is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience leading businesses and has held various C- level roles within the industry.

During his time at IAG, he served in interim executive roles for biNu where he served as interim CEO. At Universal Music Group Africa, he was interim Chief Operating Officer for Africa amongst others.

An American native, Stephen has spent the last 21 years living and working across LATAM & EMEA developing deep business ties within the regions. During this time Stephen has held various positions and assisted large corporates. He has served as CEO e-commerce Platforms for MIH Internet, a division of Naspers, VP & MD of inMobi Africa, MD of Google South Africa, MD of Google Analytics and Checkout EMEA, VP & MD of the Ad Exchange for DoubleClick EMEA (sold to Google); and GM Hitwise EMEA. (sold to Experian). Stephen has also taken part in two successful exits; Hitwise to Experian and Double Click to Google and has equally assisted in acquisitions and setting companies up for the same. Additionally, Stephen serves as an active senior-level board member of numerous businesses that focus on the African continent.

Stephen resides in South Africa, is married with 3 children, and holds a Juris Doctorate in Law from Loyola Law School Los Angeles, with a focus on Bio-Ethics and the Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French from University of Washington, Seattle. He speaks English, French and is conversant in Spanish, Portuguese, and learning Swahili.