The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that Dr. Tachi Yamada president of the Foundation’s Global Health Program intends to retire from his position after serving for five years. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, commented, “Tachi has done a great job of focusing our ability to create and deliver vaccines and other interventions to the people who need them the most. He has put our global health programs on a path to success, and we look forward to building on his work.” Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said, “Tachi’s leadership has helped keep the global health community focused on results. He has built a long-lasting partnership with the WHO and we look forward to remaining deeply engaged with the Gates Foundation.” The Foundation said Dr. Yamada will remain in his role until June and that a global search for his successor is underway. Dr. Yamada said, “It has been my greatest privilege to be able to impact the lives of so many people in need. I will always cherish the friendship and collaboration of my outstanding colleagues who have been my partners in this endeavor.”

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/tachi-yamada-to-leave-110214.aspx