NEWS/MEDIA

Memorial Day 2021 at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial (VVM)

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Monday was a solemn day of remembrance and thanksgiving for all those who have served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice.  After an aerial photo shoot in Leesburg, VA I made a point of stopping on my way through DC to visit the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial.  I’ve done this literally a few hundred times, the first of which was the day of dedication back in 1982.  Visits there have always been emotional to me.  I think that it was somewhere around my 100th visit that I  managed not to break down in tears for those lost in that politically-charged war.

Yesterday was a little different.  I found a great parking space on 22nd Street NW, just off Constitution Ave and directly opposite the memorial.  The next difference was that I  approached the VVM from the West end, where all of my previous visits were approached from the East.  The next difference was the signage promoting the new Mobile App (VVMF Mobile Tour, for iPhone or Android).  This is a wonderful app that eliminates the need to page through the well-used paper directories found around the Memorial.  It provides not only the panel and line number locatoin of their name, but also a wealth of information about the deceased veteran.

Read more: Memorial Day 2021 at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial (VVM)

Global perspective from General Petraeus in conversation with Bill Roedy

Video and Audio links

Summary Below

General Petraeus grew up in Cornwall-on-Hudson, just 7 miles from West Point.

His father was a Dutch sea captain who, unable to get back into port in Rotterdam during the war, joined the US merchant navy. His mother was a librarian from Brooklyn. He enjoyed many “broadening cultural experiences” as a kid, but his father was “all about results” – giving him a healthy dose of reality from an early age.

Read more: Global perspective from General Petraeus in conversation with Bill Roedy

amFAR Trustee Biography: Bill Roedy

Joined the amfAR board in October 2010. Serves on the board development and communications/social media/marketing committees. Is active in a wide range of corporate social responsibility issues, particularly those that target young people.

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Bill Roedy: 2015 Cable Hall of Fame Honoree

Meet the Cable Hall of Fame Honorees Past and Present

Learn more about current and past Cable Hall of Fame inductees. Included here are the inductee bios, tribute videos, and related Cable Hall of Fame media. Please note that all title and biographical information is current as of the date of induction. Inductees are selected by an anonymous committee of cable executives based on criteria including leadership and innovation.

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TowerBrook recognised for diversity and inclusion efforts

On International Women’s Day, we are excited to announce that TowerBrook has been ranked as one of the top 5 PE firms in the inaugural PE News ‘PE and VC Diversity and Inclusion Ranking’.  PE News assessed over 400 firms for their diversity efforts, and the top 20 shortlist has been published today.  This list recognises TowerBrook as one of the best-ranked firms across the industry according to the publication’s D&I assessment methodology.

Read more: TowerBrook recognised for diversity and inclusion efforts

BILL ROEDY SELECTED AS DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF WEST POINT

Bill Roedy has been selected as a Distinguished Graduate of the US Military Academy, West Point, NY.

The Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) is to be given to graduates of the United States Military Academy whose character, distinguished service, and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.”

Read more: BILL ROEDY SELECTED AS DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF WEST POINT

GAVI BOARD APPOINTS BILL ROEDY AS VICE CHAIR

Former-MTV CEO and HIV/AIDS advocate to help further protect millions of children from vaccine-preventable diseases GENEVA 7 June 2018 – Global health ambassador and former-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MTV networks International (MTVNI), Bill Roedy, was today appointed by the Gavi Board as its new Vice Chair.

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Gavi board appoints BILL ROEDY AS Vice Chair

Former-MTVI CEO and HIV/AIDS advocate to help further protect millions of children from vaccine-preventable diseases 

Read more: GAVI BOARD APPOINTS BILL ROEDY AS VICE CHAIR

An MTV Chief, a General, and President Are Among the New Churchill Fellows

Eight prominent leaders, including former MTV Chairman and CEO William Roedy, Gen. David H. Petraeus and Westminster President Benjamin Ola. Akande  have been inducted into the Association of Churchill Fellows at Westminster College on April 4th 2017.

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(Article originally published on Westminster College Website)

 Along with other inductees, they became members of the prestigious association during a solemn ceremony over the weekend in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, which also serves as the home of the National Churchill Museum. Acting as Senior  Fellow, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter, noted artist and sculptor Edwina Sandys, M.B.E. bestowed the honor on the new inductees. 

Read more: An MTV Chief, a General, and President Are Among the New Churchill Fellows

Agent Orange use in Vietnam and Laos during the Vietnam war

A report on Agent Orange use in Vietnam and Laos during the Vietnam war.

Livng with Consequences of Agent Orange / Dioxin Fifty Years Later: An Update on the Situation in Vietnam and Laos from the War Legacies Project,ipresented by Susan Hammond, Founder and Executive Director of War Legacies Project & Jacquelyn Chagnon, International Development Specialist and Board Member of War Legacies Project

 August 30, 2016

Partnerships for International Strategies in Asia (PISA) George Washington University

Personal Perspectives on the Corporate Response to HIV/AIDS – An Introduction to GBCHealth’s HIV/AIDS Expert Interview Series

By Bill Roedy, MTV Networks International, Former President (ret.); Board Director and Co-Founder, GBCHealth

Bill roedy GBCHealth business action on health awards 2016

Bolstered by the global multisector response to Ebola and Zika over the past two years, I have found myself reflecting on the origins of business engagement in the HIV/AIDS pandemic when MTV Networks and the Financial Times came together with four large pharmaceutical companies to start the Global Business Council, which eventually became GBCHealth.

 Since 1995, HIV/AIDS-related deaths in the US have dropped by 85 percent. 17 million people now have access to lifesaving HIV treatment and 5.5 million deaths have been averted globally from 1995 to 2012. These milestones were achieved in no small part with the support of the private sector through the dedicated mobilization of resources and expertise for on-the-ground impact. During this period, businesses have provided less costly ARVs for distribution, created inclusive workplace policies to guard against discrimination and created award winning public-private awareness campaigns about the virus and disease.

Read more: Personal Perspectives on the Corporate Response to HIV/AIDS – An Introduction to GBCHealth’s...

Bill Roedy joins Gavi Vaccine Alliance Board

Former CEO of MTV Networks to share knowledge and experience as independent member GENEVA, 25 June 2015 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is delighted to announce the appointment of Bill Roedy as an independent Board member, supporting the organization’s work to protect children’s lives through immunisation.

Bill Roedy joins Gavi Vaccine Alliance Board to help keep vaccines rocking  Independent Board members bring a diverse range of expertise and experience to support Gavi’s ambitious goal of helping the world’s poorest countries immunise 300 million children between 2016 and 2020, leading to up to six million lives being saved.

Read more: Bill Roedy joins Gavi Vaccine Alliance Board

The WPD Generation: Moving the needle to fight childhood disease

Bill Roedy, former CEO of MTV, explains why he is passionate in the fight to end pneumonia, a preventable disease.


Bill Roedy with Pentavalent vaccine which has been administered to 400 million children as of 2013 in Dar-es-Salaam, GAVI, Tanzania, November 2013


As a music lover and former CEO of MTV Networks International, I’ve spent decades trying to give voice to young people struggling for creative freedom. More recently though I’ve also taken to a new cause: the struggle of babies and children in poor countries just to survive.

 Few people can even name the leading global killer of young children — it’s pneumonia — and it claims a child’s life every 20 seconds. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of these deaths take place in the developing world where access to health prevention and care is sometimes complicated.

Read more: The WPD Generation: Moving the needle to fight childhood disease

Life Ball 2014

Bill Roedy was invited to attended the 'Life Ball 2014 - Press Conference' at Hotel Imperial on May 31, 2014 in Vienna, Austria.

The Life Ball, which takes place annually inside Vienna City Hall, is one of the biggest AIDS charity events in the world.

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Bill Roedy attends the 'Life Ball 2014 - Press Conference' at Hotel Imperial on May 31, 2014 in Vienna, Austria.

The aim: to help affected people in an unconventional way and to fight against the taboo status of HIV/AIDS in our society. Therefore, Life Ball is an exuberant festivity that celebrates life and makes a loud statement in the fight against HIV and AIDS – resounding across the boundaries of Vienna and Austria.

Read more: Life Ball 2014

Corporate Commitment to Improving the World Through Vaccines

Every child deserves an equal shot at beginning his or her life healthy and safe. But the reality is that a vast number of children - simply because of where they were born - are vulnerable to deadly diseases that have largely been muted in the rest of the world thanks to the power of vaccines.

Kids in wealthier countries are protected from measles, whooping cough, tetanus and deadly diarrhea, for example. But those who happen to be born in poorer countries often are not.

We in the corporate world can help fix this. In fact, I am convinced that the only way to ensure equal access to vaccines for all of the world’s children is through business-driven solutions.

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Read more: Corporate Commitment to Improving the World Through Vaccines

Celebrating International Women’s Day? saving the lives of women

Martha lives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As a mother and grandmother, she is a main caretaker of her family. Martha has cervical cancer. It will probably kill her if the cobalt radiation therapy does not do more harm to her fragile body. Martha is just one of the more than 6,200 Tanzanian women who are diagnosed every year with cervical cancer, this east African country’s most common cancer.

Cervical cancer is not a major killer in richer countries – it takes the lives of about 10 percent of the women who contract it. But in poorer countries like Tanzania and across Africa, Asia and Latin America, hundreds of thousands of women die every year.

Read more: Celebrating International Women’s Day? saving the lives of women

Saving Lives: Could There Be Any Better Return on Investment?

Vaccines have been touted by economists, health experts and world leaders alike as one of the best buys in public health, and they are one of the safest and most effective ways to save children’s lives and protect entire communities from infectious diseases. A quick jab in the arm or drop in the mouth can provide a lifetime of protection against some of the deadliest threats we face.

With the tools at hand to prevent disease and help save millions of lives, why not do everything in our power to help? And in this economy, why not invest in a sure thing?

 The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI Alliance), which has helped immunize nearly 300 million children in more than 70 countries since it was founded in 2000, has just announced a major new initiative aimed at engaging private sector leaders: the GAVI Matching Fund.

Through this program, the British Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will provide a 100% match of contributions to GAVI from corporations and foundations as well as their customers, members and employees. Together, DFID and the Gates Foundation have pledged $130 million to support this effort, which means there’s the potential to generate $260 million for global childhood immunization efforts.

 So, why GAVI, with so many good causes vying for support?

Read more: Saving Lives: Could There Be Any Better Return on Investment?

Bill receives Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree

On a perfect spring day, 378 students graduated with their respective Bachelor, Master, Associate degrees as well as Post Masters certificates on Friday, May 13th at the College’s 54th Commencement exercises. More than 2,500 family and friends looked on as the graduates received their diplomas on the College’s sprawling front lawn.

William H. Roedy, former Chairman and Chief Executive of MTV Networks International, was the commencement speaker and received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the ceremony.

General Kofi Annan appoints Global Media AIDS Initiative Founding Chair

In January 2011 General Kofi Annan appointed Bill Roedy as founding chair of the Global Media AIDS Initiative Leadership Committee. The Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI) is an umbrella organization that unites and motivates media companies around the world to use their influence, resources, and creative talent to address AIDS.

The Global Media AIDS Initiative Mission

Read more: General Kofi Annan appoints Global Media AIDS Initiative Founding Chair

The Daily Telegraphy - MTV president Bill Roedy has taken his music channel from the Berlin Wall to SpongeBob SquarePants

From missiles to music. From the iron curtain to the red carpet.” Bill Roedy says he has finally “coined” his unconventional career as he exits MTV after spending three decades masterminding the music channel’s global expansion.

The outgoing president of Viacom’s MTV Networks International, began his working life as a platoon leader in Vietnam – having studied at US military academy West Point. He later became a NATO missile commander.

 “One of the first issues I had to deal [in Vietnam] with was a firebase overrun by a chemical attack. A US soldier had taken a drug overdose. I didn’t know what it was, I wasn’t trained for that. I called the medic back in and I was scalded the next day for jeopardising a helicopter crew who told me this was the norm.”

From this harrowing insight into the state of morale in Vietnam in the 1970s, to discuss his exit from the global business he built, Roedy appears almost emotionless.

 Forty years on and he has kept the soldier-like qualities he probably acquired to survive in an environment where death and destruction are pervasive.

 Originally published June 9, 2017

Read the full article on The Daily Telegraphy

Celebrating Dagfinn Høybråten

Celebrating Dagfinn's tenure as Chairman, Gavi, and the ambition of leaving no child behind in the quest for vaccinations against life-threatening diseases.

As Gavi Board Chair 2011-2015, Dagfinn Høybråten guided the public-private partnership in its fight to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all the world’s children.



Sky News – Murnaghan

Bill talks to Murnaghan on Sky News about What Makes Business Rock, his work in the Global Health Sector including the new vaccinations developed by GAVI.



Bill & Family reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

The Roedy family climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for initiatives such as MTV Staying Alive, Seeds of Peace, mUNAIDS, GAVI & amfAR.

On 12th April 2014, Bill & the Roedy family successfully reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The party included Tiger, age 10, and Rocky, age 12, who are both among the youngest to achieve the summit.

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Read more: Bill & Family reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

The Roedy’s are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday 6th April, 2014!

On Sunday 6th April the Roedy’s start their 5 day ascend to the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world, at 19,341 feet!

We will raise money for two important charities. ‘Seeds of Peace’ and ‘The Staying Alive Foundation’. Noa and Liam have been actively involved already, with Liam becoming a ‘Seed’ last summer and Noa working for the Staying Alive Foundation during her last year of High School. This will be Rocky’s and Tiger’s first opportunity to help raise awareness, and what an exciting and challenging one at that, being only 12 and 10 years old!

Read more: The Roedy’s are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on Sunday 6th April, 2014!

Elite Business - A force for good

Bill Roedy is famous for growing MTV International Networks across the world; taking it from a tiny London outpost to more than 200 countries and 2 billion viewers. But his campaign to fight AIDS worldwide is proving to be his biggest battle yet. By Hannah Prevett & Emilie Sandy.

Originally published December 2, 2013

Read the full article on Elite Business

Mint - Playing it by ear, successfully

In his new book, What Makes Business Rock, Roedy talks about contemporary music history as well as the story of the business behind the music. In a phone interview from Miami, US, Roedy spoke to Mint about his pet strategies—localize and break all rules. Edited excerpts:

Originally published September 9, 2011

Read the full article on Mint

The Irish Times - Who wants their MTV?

After earning a Bronze Star in Vietnam, Bill Roedy took on a different sort of challenge – he brought MTV to the rest of the world. IT MAY COME as something of a surprise to find that the lowbrow-teen-soundbite-attention-deficit MTV was inspired by what happened in the killing fields of Vietnam, but that is exactly how the former head of the network, Bill Roedy, explains how he grew the music channel across 165 countries and left it with a potential audience of two billion people.

Originally published August 26, 2011

Read the full article on The Irish Times

The Lancet - Bill Roedy

If global health had rock legends, Bill Roedy would be in its hall of fame. The former MTV boss, who ensured that the music channel network went global, joined forces long ago with the UN to invent innovative ways of raising HIV awareness among young people. Now, he has taken on the challenge of raising the profile of vaccines, by becoming the GAVI Alliance's first global Envoy.

Originally published June 11, 2011

Read the full article on The Lancet

The Telegraph - In tune with the world

From missiles to music. From the iron curtain to the red carpet.” Bill Roedy says he has finally “coined” his unconventional career as he exits MTV after spending three decades masterminding the music channel’s global expansion.

Originally published January 29, 2011

Read the full article on The Telegraph

Today.com - MTV Europe Awards to mark fall of Berlin Wall

For Katy Perry, learning can be fun! The singer, hosting MTV's European Music Awards for a second consecutive year, said that Thursday's show is a chance to combine performances by artists like U2, Foo Fighters and Leona Lewis with a remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the Nov. 9 fall of the Berlin Wall.

Originally published April 11, 2009

Read the full article on Today.com

Bloomberg - MTV’s World

Mando-Pop. Mexican Hip Hop. Russian Rap. It’s all fueling the biggest global channel.

Originally published February 18, 2002

Read the full article on Bloomberg