WHO Foundation Appoints Anil Soni as CEO

(31 Oct 2021) The WHO Foundation has appointed Anil Soni as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2021.

Soni joins the Foundation from Viatris, a global healthcare company, where he has served as Head of Global Infectious Diseases.

As CEO, Soni is charged with accelerating the Foundation’s work to invest in innovative, evidence-based initiatives that support the WHO in delivering on its mission to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

The Foundation, an independent grant-making agency headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, was launched in May 2020 to work alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global health community to address the world’s most pressing global health challenges.

Professor Thomas Zeltner, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the WHO Foundation, said, “Anil is a dynamic leader with deep experience across all aspects of global public health. From his work at Viatris where he has led the development and introduction of medicines to treat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, to his leadership of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and his time at the Global Fund, he has demonstrated his ability to work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors and build successful new organizations from the ground up. On behalf of the Board, we are delighted to have Anil lead the Foundation at this critical moment for the future of global health.”

A seasoned global health expert, Soni has over 20 years of experience working across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to expand healthcare access in low and middle-income countries.

While at Viatris, he has been instrumental in shortening the amount of time needed to make low-cost medicines available in high-burden settings. This was most recently reflected by the approval of an HIV medicine recommended by the WHO for infants born with HIV, at a 75% reduction in cost to the current treatment.

Such success reflects Soni’s experience building some of the most innovative and impactful organizations in global health over the last decade, notably the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

In addition to advisory roles with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the MDG Health Alliance, Soni joins the WHO Foundation with a strong track record of mobilizing resources and advocating for global health priorities, as demonstrated through his leadership of the Friends of the Global Fight in the United States.

Anil Soni said, “We are at a critical juncture for global public health. After months of combatting the COVID19 pandemic, there is hope for several successful vaccine candidates. Beyond this crucial step, the path to recovery necessitates expanded investment in the many health priorities that have been compromised in recent months - from drops in vaccine coverage and HIV treatment to delays in cancer treatment. The WHO Foundation represents a unique new opportunity for everyone in the world to play their part in tackling these challenges and in promoting global health, through a strong and vibrant WHO. I’m thrilled to be joining the Foundation at such a critical moment and look forward to working with the Board to realize the Foundation’s mission.”

To help deliver on its ambitions, the Foundation has expanded its board to include a globally representative group of experts reflecting diverse perspectives from public, private and civil society sectors. Chaired by Dr. Thomas Zeltner, the board includes Clare Akamanzi; Bob Carter; Senait Fisseha, MD, JD; Dr. Silvia Gold; Arun Jain; Nahed Mohammed Taher, PhD; and Rebecca Enonchong.

“Over the next three years, the WHO Foundation aims to raise $1 billion to directly impact the health of people around the world. That will change the face of what the WHO can do for the world. The Foundation has been built on a vision of the world where everyone invests in every life. We believe global health is our collective responsibility, and we want to give everyone the opportunity to contribute,” added Zeltner.

See latest Travel Industry News, Video Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: COVID19, World Health Organisation, WHO, CEO.