GAVI Watch [to 12 April 2014]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

:: Anuradha Gupta appointed Deputy CEO of the GAVI Alliance
The GAVI Alliance announced the appointment of Anuradha Gupta as its new Deputy CEO, noting that “with more than 30 years of experience in public health and public policy, Ms. Gupta brings with her a wealth of management and leadership expertise, a proven track record of success and a passion for making a profound social impact.” Ms. Gupta is currently Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Government of India. During this time “she has played an integral role in India’s hugely successful polio eradication program, taking strategic decisions that helped secure a polio-free India – a feat once considered impossible by many observers.” Ms Gupta will join the GAVI Executive Office on 2nd June and will be based at the Alliance’s headquarters in Geneva.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance, said, “I am personally very excited to see Anuradha become part of our team, bringing her tremendous expertise, experience and passion. We are moving forward into a phase of massive expansion of GAVI-supported immunisation programmes so Anuradha’s extensive management experience and deep understanding of country-level immunisation challenges will prove invaluable. Additionally, with 20 countries expected to graduate away from GAVI support by 2020, Anuradha’s broad multi-sectorial expertise and proven ability to deliver results will help to steer the Alliance through this unprecedented transitional phase.” Ms. Gupta holds an MBA from Wollongong University in Australia and has read Public Policy at Maxwell School in the United States. She has also received executive education at Stanford Business School and John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University.

Ms. Gupta succeeds current GAVI Alliance Deputy CEO Helen Evans, “who is retiring after a career that has also seen her hold key positions in the Australian Health Ministry and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. She joined the GAVI Alliance in 2009 and was interim CEO during the successful replenishment event in 2011 which saw donors commit US$ 7.4 billion towards Alliance immunisation programmes.” Dr Berkley noted, “Helen will be greatly missed by all connected with GAVI. Her successful spell as interim CEO laid the foundations for the huge acceleration of vaccine introductions that we are able to support today. We are sad that she is retiring but we are pleased for her that she will be able to be closer geographically to her family for the first time in more than a decade.”

Full media release: Geneva, 10 April 2014 http://www.gavialliance.org/Library/News/Press-releases/2014/Anuradha-Gupta-appointed-Deputy-CEO-of-the-GAVI-Alliance/