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.
STATEMENT
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
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.
Mr Roedy joined Gavi in 2010 as its first Envoy. He was appointed to the Board in 2015 and has been acting Vice Chair since April 2018.
“It is an honour to be appointed Vice Chair of the Gavi Board. In my work with GAVI, I have never seen a leaner and more accountable, sustainable, efficient operation in all of global health, and in fact all of business,” said Mr Roedy. “Universal access to life-saving vaccines is the bedrock of a healthy society and a strong economy, and I look forward to supporting the Board Chair in this mission to save children’s lives and protect peoples’ health”
Mr Roedy brings to the position extensive experience in the private sector as former-CEO of MTVNI, as well as a strong commitment to addressing major social issues, for which he has received numerous awards. He is currently founding Chairman of the Staying Alive Foundation, a past Goodwill ambassador for UNAIDS as well as Chair of amfAR, the foundation for AIDS research and serves with numerous other health initiatives.
Mr Roedy is an individual recognised as a global health leader who strongly advocates for Gavi and for immunisation. He has used his extensive network and experience to champion the private sector for immunisation, which provides opportunities to significantly increase their contributions to saving children’s lives through vaccination.
Mr Roedy replaces Gunilla Carlsson, former Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, who stepped down from the position earlier this year following her appointment as Deputy Executive Director, Management and Governance, UNAIDS, and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations. As vice-chair of the Board, Mr Roedy will also become chair of the Gavi Governance Committee.
Notes to editors
About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of nearly 640 million children and the prevention of more than 9 million future deaths.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is supported by donor governments (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, Spain, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States), the European Commission, Alwaleed Philanthropies, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as private and corporate partners (Absolute Return for Kids, Anglo American plc., The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, China Merchants Group, Comic Relief, Deutsche Post DHL, the ELMA Vaccines and Immunization Foundation, Girl Effect, The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW), the Gulf Youth Alliance, JP Morgan, “la Caixa” Foundation, LDS Charities, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Majid Al Futtaim, Philips, Unilever, UPS and Vodafone).
