WHO Names New Leadership Team

The World Health Organization today announced the new leadership team for the UN agency, with a range of geographic representation and a majority of women in the top posts.

“The new team includes former ministers of health, some of the world’s leading physicians, scientists and researchers, and programmatic experts in universal health coverage, health emergencies, communicable and non-communicable diseases, climate and environmental health, and women’s, adolescents’ and children’s health. Individually and collectively, they have a wealth of experience across government, private sector, multilateral, civil society and academic organizations,” the WHO said in a release. Details on the leadership team are here.

“The team represents 14 countries, including all WHO regions, and is more than 60% women, reflecting my deep-held belief that we need top talent, gender equity and a geographically diverse set of perspectives to fulfil our mission to keep the world safe,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia, who took office in July this year.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (India) will be Deputy Director General for Programmes (DDP) and Jane Ellison (United Kingdom) will be Deputy Director General for Corporate Operations (DDC).

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan has more than 30 years of experience in clinical care, research and translating those findings into programs. She most recently served as Secretary of the Department of Health Research in India and as Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Jane Ellison brings with her more than 30 years of experience in government, commerce and change management. Most recently, she was the Special Parliamentary Adviser to the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer. She also served as the UK’s Public Health Minister from 2014 to 2016.

Dr. Peter Salama will remain in his role as the Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, the WHO said.

The Assistant Director General appointees are:
·         Dr. Bernhard Schwartländer (Germany), Chef de Cabinet
·         Dr. Naoko Yamamoto (Japan), Assistant Director General for Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems Cluster
·         Professor Lubna A. Al-Ansary (Saudi Arabia), Assistant Director General for Metrics and Measurement
·         Dr. Svetlana Akselrod (Russia), Assistant Director General for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health
·         Ambassador Michèle Boccoz (France), Assistant Director General for External Relations
·         Dr. Ranieri Guerra (Italy), Assistant Director General for Special Initiatives
·         Dr. Ren Minghui (China), Assistant Director General for Communicable Diseases
·         Dr. Mariângela Batista Galvão Simão (Brazil), Assistant Director General for Drug Access, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals
·         Dr. Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela (South Africa), Assistant Director General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents
·         Mr. Stewart Simonson (United States), Assistant Director General for General Management
·         Dr. Joy St John (Barbados), Assistant Director General for Climate and Other Determinants of Health

All of these appointees will transition into their new roles over the next several weeks, WHO said. Additional details are available at http://www.who.int/dg/leadership-team/en/

Tedros also acknowledged the work of his transition team, chaired by Dr. Senait Fisseha, which helped put the team together.

 

Image Credits: WHO