As Managing Director of Africa Services, Gilchrist Koutob helps lead the ASC in operations aligned with Mercy Ships’ volunteer, partnership, and programmatic objectives across the continent. He first joined Mercy Ships in November 2023 as Operations Director for the ASC in Senegal and was also integral as Interim Country Director in Madagascar during negotiations with the Malagasy government over how the organization could offer support to the region.
Gilchrist is from Togo and currently lives and works in Senegal, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in law, communication, and marketing. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration with a major in strategic management and leadership from the reputable British Business College. He started his career in 2010 as an administrative and accounts assistant for the World Mission Agency, a missionary agency with headquarters in Nigeria, where he honed his skills over four years.
His passion for languages and desire to communicate with others moved Gilchrist to take a second position at the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) as a freelance conference interpreter and French tutor to civil aviation experts. His success led him to co-found ROLSI (Royalty Lingua Services International). Here, he and his team offer translation, conference interpretation, conference presentation, and language tutoring services to UN agencies, embassies, NGOs, churches, and civil society organizations across Africa.
In 2015, Gilchrist became the communications and fundraising executive of the Christian Broadcasting Network, a humanitarian media organization with headquarters in Virginia Beach, USA, where he led essential strategic approaches to 23 French-speaking countries in Africa. Within nine years, he became the operations manager, Director of Operations, and Regional Director. Gilchrist has retained a deep passion for mentorship throughout his extensive career, founding the “Equipped to Equip Others” mentorship program that helps young professionals across Africa make a positive impact in their communities.
Gilchrist has travelled to more than 25 countries and speaks four languages fluently. He is happily married and blessed with two beautiful children.