Who's who in #globaldev: March 2022 executive appointments

The International Labour Organization has elected Gilbert Houngbo, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, as its next director-general. “Like IFAD, ILO is an organization dedicated to inclusive development, equity and social justice, and ensuring that the most marginalized and vulnerable people are not left behind,” Houngbo said in a statement. As IFAD begins the process of appointing a new president, Huongbo will continue leading the organization, before taking office at the ILO on Oct. 1. Here is a roundup of other job moves, leadership changes, and executive appointments in the month of March. Think tanks After an extensive search process, the Inter-American Dialogue announced that Rebecca Bill Chavez will be its next president and CEO. Eva Grant, press secretary at the Center for Global Development, announced she is leaving the organization. Universities Norbert Wilson will become the new director of the World Food Policy Center at Duke University as of July 1. Aishwarya Ratan has been appointed deputy director at the Yale Economic Growth Center. Most recently, she was a senior program officer in the gender equality division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Leslie Labruto was named as director of the Marshall Impact Accelerator, a new project — based at the London School of Economics and Political Science — to accelerate social ventures Development finance DAI Magister, which was created when a major international development consultancy joined forces with an investment group, has appointed Marc Deschamps as co-head. The African Development Bank appointed Mike Salawou as acting director for the infrastructure and urban development department. The Asian Development Bank has extended the term of Ahmad Saeed as vice-president for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific by two years. Françoise Lombard was appointed CEO at Proparco, a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement focused on private sector development. Nonprofits and NGOs Global Communities named Carrie Hessler-Radelet, formerly director of the U.S. government’s Peace Corps, as its incoming president and CEO. She will assume the role on Oct. 1. Sylvia Megret was named president and CEO at ACDI/VOCA. Currently COO of the international development nonprofit, she will step into this new role on April 16. Global Impact announced five new board members: Erik Arnold, Nicole Howe Buggs, Lisa Treviño Cummins, Charles Owubah, and Karen Wawrzaszek. The Council of the Americas welcomed Carlos Felipe Jaramillo as co-chair of COA’s trade advisory group. Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has joined the advisory board for Unlock Aid, a coalition of leaders that is organizing to drive structural changes in global development. ID2020 announced that Dakota Gruener, the organization’s founding executive director, will transition into a new role as adviser to the board of directors. The organization, which is focused on digital identity, is also launching a search for a new executive director. Spring Impact, an organization focused on scaling social impact, has appointed Mohamed Osman as its new CEO. Winrock International announced the appointment of Michaela Edwards to its board of directors. The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition announced that former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien has joined its National Advisory Council. US government USAID announced that the agency’s Administrator Samantha Power will co-lead the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Governing Council for a two-year term, alongside P. K. Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister of India. Scott A. Nathan was sworn in as CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, was named the White House lead of the COVID-19 response. He will replace Jeffrey Zients, who plans to leave the White House in April. Gideon Maltz announced he is stepping down as chief of staff at USAID to return to the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the business community to integrate refugees into host communities. Dennis Vega, deputy chief of staff at USAID, will step into his role. Global Health Julie Gerberding is retiring from Merck, also known as MSD, and will be joining the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health as CEO. Dr. Roy D. Baynes, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer at Merck Research Laboratories, is retiring. He will be succeeded by Dr. Eliav Barr effective April 1. Adebola Williams, a Nigerian media entrepreneur and international political consultant, was named as a global patron of Malaria No More UK. Magda Robalo is joining Women in Global Health as global managing director. Climate Evan Tachovsky has left The Rockefeller Foundation to join the World Resources Institute as global director of its data lab. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet announced Simon Harford as CEO and Ravi Venkatesan as board chair. Jennifer Morgan, head of Greenpeace International, is now Germany’s special envoy for international climate policy. Fifteen experts were named as the first members of the new European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. Amir Lebdioui has been appointed to the African Climate Foundation’s African transitions group.