Silberschmidt To Join WHO As Senior Adviser To Director General

Gaudenz Silberschmidt, head of international affairs in Switzerland’s public health office for the past decade, has been nominated to become senior adviser in the World Health Organization Office of the Director-General. He will have a special focus on the reform process taking place at the cash-strapped UN agency.

Silberschmidt, a medical doctor who holds the title of ambassador and vice director, will move to WHO from 8 October. He will be on secondment from the Swiss government, according to the WHO.

Silberchmidt is currently head of International Affairs in the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, where he has had significant involvement in WHO governance and policy issues. For instance, when a Swiss industry expert was proposed by Switzerland for a panel examining financing options for neglected disease R&D, Silberschmidt defended the expert’s nomination (IPW, WHO, 22 January 2012).

Until a successor is appointed, Muriel Peneveyre will lead the Division of International Affairs, according to a source.

A biography of Silberschmidt is available here.