Tilahun is a seasoned leader in financial market development with extensive expertise in legal, economic policy, and private sector ecosystems. He currently serves as a Senior Capital Market Specialist FSDA, following his impactful tenure at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) and International Financial Organization (IFC).

As the Founding CEO of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) , Tilahun played a pivotal role in establishing Ethiopia’s first modern securities exchange. He was instrumental in designing and implementing the Exchange’s foundational elements. He successfully designed the organizational, business, and technology architecture of the ESX and raised significant capital from both public and private sector stakeholders. Under his leadership, the Exchange listed its first set of companies and launched several key market products, including the interbank money market, foreign exchange (FX) market, and debt market, laying a strong foundation for a vibrant and inclusive capital market in Ethiopia.

Before joining the ESX, Tilahun worked as a Private Sector Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – World Bank Group, where he managed multisectoral projects aimed at improving the business environment and fostering private sector development across the region.

Tilahun holds an LLM in Business Law from Addis Ababa University School of Law, an LLM in International Economic Law and Policy from the University of Barcelona, and a Ph.D. in Law and Economics from the University of Bocconi in Milan.