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Oliver Wyman Announces Strategic Alliance with Kiva, the World's Leading Person-to-Person Micro-Lending Website
NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)-- International management consulting firm Oliver Wyman has formed a strategic alliance with Kiva.org, the world's leading person-to-person micro-lending website, launching a formal Kiva Externship Program that will dedicate Oliver Wyman consulting staff to supporting Kiva's continued growth and expansion.
Kiva.org allows individuals to lend as little as $25 directly to developing world entrepreneurs through a transparent online lending platform. Since 2005, more than 280,000 individuals from over 70 countries have collectively loaned more than $29 million to entrepreneurs in 42 developing countries.
The Kiva-Oliver Wyman alliance strengthens an existing relationship between the two organizations that has seen several Oliver Wyman consultants help build and scale Kiva's operations through participation in Oliver Wyman's industry-leading Non-Profit Fellowship Program.
"We are delighted to establish this strategic alliance with Kiva," said John Drzik, CEO of Oliver Wyman. "Through this new externship program, Oliver Wyman is supporting an outstanding non-profit organization in the fight against global poverty, while also providing unique philanthropic opportunities and valuable business experiences to our consulting staff."
Premal Shah, President of Kiva and a former Oliver Wyman consultant, commented: "From very early on in Kiva's history, Oliver Wyman has been instrumental in our growth and success. By establishing this strategic alliance, Oliver Wyman has once again taken a leading role in supporting Kiva's mission of using the power of microfinance and the Internet to help fight global poverty. We are thrilled to receive the firm's support, and look forward to working with Oliver Wyman to reach even more deserving entrepreneurs around the world."
About Oliver Wyman
With more than 2,900 professionals in over 40 cities around the globe, Oliver Wyman (www.oliverwyman.com) is a leading management consulting firm that combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, organizational transformation, and leadership development. The firm helps clients optimize their businesses, improve their operations and risk profile, and accelerate their organizational performance to seize the most attractive opportunities. Oliver Wyman is part of the Oliver Wyman Group, a division of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) with revenues of $1.5 billion.
About Kiva.org
Kiva.org (www.kiva.org) is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to an entrepreneur in the developing world. Founded in 2005 by Matt and Jessica Flannery, Kiva.org's mission is to connect people, through lending, to alleviate poverty. Kiva.org currently connects lenders in more than 70 countries with entrepreneurs in 42 developing countries, through 89 microfinance partners. Kiva.org is headquartered in San Francisco.
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