Gates CEO Mark Suzman takes on foundation's critics in annual letter

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman is hitting back at critics who believe the foundation’s wealth gives it undue influence over global health and development priorities, along with multilateral institutions such as the World Health Organization.

Suzman took an unusually deep and reflective approach in his latest annual letter by focusing on the scale of the foundation — which has a record $8.3 billion budget this year — and the role of “unelected billionaires” and philanthropic capital in meeting global challenges.

“It’s true that between our dollars, voice, and convening power, we have access and influence that many others do not,” Suzman wrote in the letter published Tuesday. “It’s also true that we are able to act in ways that others cannot. Because of this, we can call attention to and help find solutions for problems that otherwise might be neglected.”