Who's who in #globaldev: May 2018 appointments
Former high-ranking U.S. officials are taking on new roles in the public and private sector.
By Jenny Lei Ravelo // 11 June 2018The Rise Fund Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is now senior adviser at impact investing fund, The Rise Fund. His main task there will be to identify potential investments, but with a focus on developing its renewable energy portfolio. In a Medium post, Kerry said private enterprises today have $50 trillion in investable capital, and are therefore a “crucial resource” in addressing many of the world’s development challenges. “We hope that we can write a new playbook and demonstrate that impact investing can be scalable, profitable, and truly measurable. If we succeed, we can open the door for institutional investors to deploy capital toward investments that drive positive social and environmental change without compromising returns,” he wrote. Deloitte Former U.S. Agency for International Development chief Wade Warren has joined Deloitte Consulting LLP as chief strategy officer for international development. In his new role, he will provide “strategic insight, thought leadership, and innovation” across the company’s work with international development organizations, according to a news release. Warren joined Deloitte after a 27-year career at USAID, where he last served as acting USAID chief and acting deputy administrator to Mark Green, current USAID administrator. “After my years with USAID, it was important to me to work for an organization with a global footprint and a strong presence in international development,” Warren said in a statement. “Given Deloitte’s impact around the world, it is a natural next step for me, and I am excited to help Deloitte continue to expand its work in this important field.” Rockefeller Foundation Rajiv Shah continues to build his senior team at the Rockefeller Foundation. Last month, the foundation’s president welcomed Naveen Rao as new managing director for health and as his senior adviser. Rao will start July 1. In his role as managing director, Rao is expected to leverage his decades-long experience at Merck & Co., Inc. He served in numerous positions throughout his 25 years with the company, including as head of medical affairs in Asia Pacific and lead of the company’s 10-year initiative, Merck for Mothers. Under his direction, the foundation plans to equip community health providers with new, digital tools to reduce child and maternal mortality, address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, and protect against pandemic threats, according to a news release. Shah said of Rao: “We have an exceptional history of impact on global health, and our work has always been led by leaders with the vision and ability to bring together partnerships, and the determination to see it through over time. I’m confident Naveen will extend this legacy in a profound, results-oriented way.” MSH Mark Dybul, former executive director to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and one of the founding architects of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has joined Management Sciences for Health as part of its board of directors. Marian Wentworth, MSH president and CEO, said of the appointment: “Mark brings with him the experience of having designed and led the most effective and impactful global health organizations today. We know his guidance will be instrumental in MSH’s continued leadership in global health system strengthening.” Dybul is currently faculty co-director at the Center for Global Health and Quality, and professor at the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. Last month, MSH also appointed David Humphries as its new chief communications officer. Humphries was previously vice president for communications and public affairs at international NGO Global Communities. SOS Children’s Villages USA Neil Ghosh is now CEO of SOS Children’s Villages USA. Previously, he served as executive vice president of the Global Fund for Children, and served nine years as founder and CEO of SNV USA. “Neil Ghosh is a thought leader and strategist and has spent his professional life in the private sector, government and the social sector,” Robert Baird, the organization’s board chair, said in a news release. “His childhood experience growing up in Kolkata, India, and his previous work with children and youth give him a unique perspective into the mission of SOS Children’s Villages.” CHS Alliance CHS Alliance also announced its incoming executive director: Tanya Wood, CEO of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations. She starts in September. “The CHS Alliance is a critical platform for NGOs to ensure crisis-affected people and communities are at the centre of humanitarian and development action. I am looking forward to working with the members of the Alliance at a time when it is essential for aid organizations to apply the Core Humanitarian Standard,” Wood said in a statement. Creative Associates International Earl Gast, who previously served for more than two decades at USAID and who has been serving as the senior vice president for international consulting firm Creative Associates International since June 2016, is now executive vice president for programs. In his new role, Gast will oversee the company’s education, economic growth, and communities in transition divisions, but also build and maintain the company’s relationship with current and future clients in the U.S. and elsewhere. Sarah Sewall, formerly under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, meanwhile, has joined the firm’s global advisory board. Creative Associates International President and CEO Leland Kruvant said of Sewall: “Sarah understands the complexities of working in conflict and crisis. Her knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the company as we continue to support communities in some of the world’s most fragile contexts.”
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is now senior adviser at impact investing fund, The Rise Fund. His main task there will be to identify potential investments, but with a focus on developing its renewable energy portfolio.
In a Medium post, Kerry said private enterprises today have $50 trillion in investable capital, and are therefore a “crucial resource” in addressing many of the world’s development challenges.
“We hope that we can write a new playbook and demonstrate that impact investing can be scalable, profitable, and truly measurable. If we succeed, we can open the door for institutional investors to deploy capital toward investments that drive positive social and environmental change without compromising returns,” he wrote.
This story is forDevex Promembers
Unlock this story now with a 15-day free trial of Devex Pro.
With a Devex Pro subscription you'll get access to deeper analysis and exclusive insights from our reporters and analysts.
Start my free trialRequest a group subscription Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.