Harlan Mandel

Harlan Mandel is CEO of Media Development Investment Fund, a mission-driven investment fund providing debt and equity financing to independent news and information companies. MDIF operates in countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America where a free and independent media is under threat. It invests in independent media providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies.

With investments in over 110 media companies in 39 countries since its launch in 1995, MDIF has provided over $145 million in debt and equity investments critical to the growth of many of the preeminent broadcast, print and digital news media across emerging and frontier markets. More than 77 million people around the world get their news from MDIF's current portfolio companies.

Harlan has extensive experience working in emerging and frontier markets as an impact investment manager and attorney. He also has designed and raised a number of innovative impact investment vehicles for MDIF, including a series of structured debt issuances through Switzerland's Bank Vontobel in partnership with responsAbility, a debt facility guaranteed by Sida, and a private equity fund. Harlan was MDIF's Deputy Managing Director from 1998 until his appointment as CEO in 2011.

Before joining MDIF, Harlan served as Deputy General Counsel of the Open Society Institute, after practicing law with Morrison & Foerster, specializing in international litigation, intellectual property and new media law. He received his JD from Columbia University School of Law, and holds a BA in International Relations and Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.