Press Room

January 3, 2012 - This past year has been one of the most challenging on record for the microfinance industry. As the sector dealt with the effects of a global financial crisis, publicity around questionable practices in certain markets, and rising awareness of the risks of over-indebtedness, the need for MIX’s objective, reliable, and comprehensive data and analysis became even more apparent.

As MIX enters the year of its 10-year anniversary, it recognizes the contributions of one of the most important leaders in its launch and continued development. After 10 years as the Chairman of MIX’s Board of Directors, Xavier Reille will be leaving the board in order to take on new responsibilities with IFC to advance financial inclusion in the Arab World.

Said Marten Leijon, CEO of MIX: “It is hard to overstate the positive and lasting impact that Xavier has had on MIX from its creation up until our 10^th Anniversary. When MIX was established in 2002, a total of 124 MFIs reported data; today, MIX Market contains the profiles of more than 2,100 microfinance institutions in over 110 markets! Under Xavier’s leadership, MIX’s continued commitment to transparency has also led us to expand the scope of our work in many ways -- including new areas of performance assessment, enhanced data quality through an award-winning data-management process, and the development of valuable insight and analysis of the microfinance industry.”

Xavier Reille remarked: “It has been a privilege to work with the MIX staff and my colleagues and friends on the MIX Board. It has been a fascinating journey and I’m proud of MIX’s numerous accomplishments. I have often been told that MIX has built a unique global data platform that is the envy of many emerging market industries. But what I’m most proud of is the striving global community of inventive and passionate practitioners powered by MIX to make a difference in the life of the poor.  MIX is now ready for another phase of solid growth under the leadership of our CEO Marten Leijon and our interim chairman Piyush Tantia with more focus on value-added services and greater impact on financial inclusion.”

MIX’s 10^th year marks important milestones in MIX’s path forward for the next ten years. Going forward, MIX will explore ways that its platform can be leveraged to include data and analysis that shed light on the state of financial inclusion that goes beyond traditional microfinance providers. MIX will also continue to progress with the development and launch of MIX’s new Premium Services. These new premium services serve as a way for MIX to improve its self-sufficiency in coming years, but will also help enhance the quality of data available, promote transparency, and ultimately improve its ability to fulfill its mission.

About MIX:

MIX is the premier source for objective, qualified and relevant microfinance performance data and analysis. Committed to strengthening financial inclusion and the microfinance sector by promoting transparency, MIX provides performance information on microfinance institutions (MFIs), funders, networks and service providers dedicated to serving the financial sector needs for low-income clients.

MIX fulfills its mission through a variety of platforms. On MIX Market (www.mixmarket.org), we provide instant access to financial and social performance information covering approximately 2,000 MFIs around the world. Our publications, MicroBanking Bulletin and MIX Microfinance World, feature thorough and timely analysis based on qualified data and research.

Incorporated in 2002, MIX is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC with regional offices in Azerbaijan, India, Morocco, and Peru. Our public information services are strengthened through our collaboration with the following global partners: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CGAP, Omidyar Network, The MasterCard Foundation, IFAD, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Citi Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Deutsche Bank. For more information about MIX, please visit www.themix.org.