Alex Sutton began his career at IRI in 1992.  He currently serves as Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean where he oversees the Institute’s programs work with Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela, in addition to overseeing the Latin America Regional Governance Program.

From 1992 through 1996, Sutton was a part of IRI’s Eastern Europe Division.  During that memorable period of democratization in Eastern Europe, Sutton worked with emerging political activists who would eventually go on to play prominent leadership roles in countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia.  In 1998, Sutton established IRI’s presence in Nigeria and helped to execute voter-education programs in every part of that country leading up to the 1999 elections.

From September 2006 through May 2008, Sutton served as Resident Country Director in Colombia, where IRI worked with black members of Colombia’s Congress from the Afro-Colombian Caucus, an important and influential legislative bloc.  Prior to managing IRI’s Colombia operations, Sutton held similar positions in Bangladesh (2003-2005) and Cambodia (2005-2007), where he worked on innovative youth programming.

Sutton has served in the administrations of two Massachusetts governors – his last state-government post was Chief of Staff for Economic Affairs under Governor Jane Swift.  With a background in communications, Sutton has also worked as a state government press secretary, an advocacy consultant for education reform and a public relations specialist for technology companies and nonprofits.

Sutton attended college at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA, and received a bachlor's degree in journalism in 1988. 

Alex’s Speeches, Testimony and Writings:

Cubans’ Confidence in Government Continues to Fall, CIPE Development Blog

How Life Really is in Cuba, The Miami Herald