November 14, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C.—Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends) welcomes today’s decision by the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), the world’s largest public health financier, to name Peter Sands as the organization’s next Executive Director.
With nearly 30 years of experience in management, finance and global health, Mr. Sands brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Global Fund. As the head of the Global Fund, he will guide the organization’s Replenishment and grant-making efforts, which total approximately $4 billion each year in support of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. Mr. Sands joins a line of Global Fund leaders who have remained committed to the organization’s lifesaving mission to end the deadliest epidemics, and he has pledged to continue support of its reforms to promote transparency, accountability and effectiveness.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Mr. Sands worked for the UK government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office before joining McKinsey and Company. After holding both director and executive level offices at Standard Chartered Bank, he joined the National Academy of Medicine’s Commission on Global Health Risk Framework as Chairman. During his tenure as the Chair of the World Bank Group’s International Working Group on Financing Preparedness earlier this year, he contributed to the report, “From Panic and Neglect to Investing in Health Security: Financing Pandemic Preparedness at a National Level.”
“Mr. Sands has notable experience in global health and finance, and we are excited to welcome him to the Global Fund,” said Chris Collins, President of Friends. “I am confident that the Fund will continue to achieve impressive results under his leadership. The commitment to innovation, transparency and independent oversight of the Global Fund – which Mr. Sands emphasizes – will help the organization continue to achieve impressive results against the world’s biggest infectious disease killers.”
Since 2002, Global Fund-supported programs have saved 22 million lives, helped 11 million people access antiretroviral therapy for HIV, treated 17.4 million people for TB and distributed 795 million insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria infections. On the heels of this progress, the Global Fund is preparing for its Sixth Voluntary Replenishment Conference in 2019 to raise funds for its 2020-2023 grant cycle. Mr. Sands will work with donor governments, the private sector and implementing countries to ensure the Global Fund is successfully funded.
“Mr. Sands’ knowledge of global health security and financing demonstrates that he is a leader capable of building upon the Global Fund’s achievements,” said Jonathan Klein, Board Chair of Friends and Co-founder and Chairman of Getty Images. “By keeping an eye to impressive results and upholding the Fund’s achievements, Mr. Sands will push the world forward in the vital fight to stop AIDS, TB and malaria.”
“As advocates for the Global Fund in the U.S., Friends looks forward to working with Mr. Sands to ensure the U.S. government continues its leadership in global health as the largest contributor to the Global Fund,” Collins said. “Through collaborative work with bilateral health programs, U.S. support for the Global Fund will help save millions of lives and lead to billions of dollars in long-term economic gains. Investing in the fight against disease is a win-win.”
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ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria advocates for U.S. support of the Global Fund, and its goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Katie Broendel, [email protected]
202.912.3833