The Global Fund Board has appointed Peter Sands as its next Executive Director during the 38th Board Meeting in Geneva, with the commencement date of his role yet to be determined.
Sands, currently Chairman of the World Bank’s International Working Group on Financing Pandemic Preparedness and Research Fellow at the Harvard Global Health Institute, will be the Global Fund’s fourth Executive Director since its inception in 2002. As Executive Director he will oversee and guide the implementation of the Global Fund’s 2017-2022 strategy, designed to build resilient and sustainable health systems.
“Peter Sands brings exceptional management and finance experience, and a heart for global health,” said Aida Kurtović, Global Fund Board Chair. “At a time when we face complex challenges, his ability to mobilise resources while managing transformational change is exactly what we need. We expect him to take the Global fund to the next level.”
The Western Pacific Region (WPR) Constituency, represented by Board Member Siula Bulu, participated in voting for the appointment of the new Executive Director. Board Members were asked to rank each candidate by order of preference, the final step in a lengthy selection process that saw a pool of 109 candidates reduced to 4 ahead of the 38th Board Meeting. Peter Sands edged out the 3 other final candidates – Simon Bland, Frannie Leautier and Anil Soni – to be selected as the Global Fund’s Executive Director.
“I am deeply honoured to join this extraordinary partnership,” Sands said. “Infectious diseases today represent one of the most serious risks facing humankind. If we work together to mobilize funds, build strong health systems and establish effective community responses we will be able to end epidemics, promote prosperity and increase our global health security.”