Ben Black serves as Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 2025.

He brings nearly two decades of success building businesses and managing a broad range of transactions bolstered by his extensive experience in international investment, leadership, and legal expertise. His knowledge of capital structure, financing, restructuring, and liability management is crucial to his role along with his commitment to advancing the corporation’s mission of fostering economic growth and strengthening U.S. foreign policy objectives through strategic investment.

Prior to joining DFC, Black was Founder and Managing Partner of Fortinbras Enterprises LP. While there, he led the firm’s strategy in identifying and advancing investment opportunities across the capital structure as well as strategic investments in various industries across the globe. Black previously served as Senior Portfolio Manager at Knowledge Universe Holdings managing liquid credit, private credit, and special situations investments. He also worked in private equity at Apollo Global Management and as an attorney focusing on corporate M&A at Sullivan & Cromwell.

Black is a former member of the Advisory Board at Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership, served on the Global Advisory Council of the Woodrow Wilson Center, and has been a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has also served on the board of the Naval War College Foundation. In honor of his grandfather, Ira Ressler, a highly decorated WWII veteran, he and his family founded the Black Family Fellowship to provide higher education financial support and professional opportunities to U.S. veterans and active-duty military. 

Black holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Harvard University, an LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law, and graduated cum laude with a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania.