Cobus De Swardt joined Transparency International in 2004 and was appointed Managing Director in 2007. His experience spans the fields of globalisation, development policy, international relations and business management. Mr. De Swardt has taught and worked at universities, multinational corporations, trade unions and research institutes in managerial and research-related roles around the world.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, he was active in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa as Chair of the African National Congress in Cape Town. He is a member and former chair of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Agenda Council on Corruption. In addition, he serves on the Board of the WEF Partnering against Corruption Initiative (PACI) and the Berlin Civil Society Centre. He holds a PhD in Sociology from La Trobe University, Melbourne, and a Master of Philosophy in Political and African Studies from the University of Cape Town.