23 May 2017: The World Health Assembly elected Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia as the new Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), during the Assembly’s 70th session. He will begin a five-year term on 1 July 2017 and succeed Margaret Chan in the role.The selection process began before September 2016, and the Assembly considered three nominees: Dr. Tedros, as he is known; David Nabarro (UK); and Sania Nishtar (Pakistan). The 70th WHA is convening from 22-31 May 2017, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Tedros will begin a five-year term on 1 July 2017.

Previously, Tedros served as Chair of the Global Fund and of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board (RBM) and created the Global Malaria Action Plan, which expanded the RBM’s work beyond Africa to Asia and Latin America. He also served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Health (2012-2016 ).

In her final speech to the World Health Assembly, which serves as the decision-making body of the WHO, Chan urged the body to “remember the people” in every decision and number, saying that “behind every number is a person who defines our common humanity and deserves our compassion.” Chan also urged the WHO to: listen to civil society, whom she called “society’s conscience”; work towards the potential of vaccines; and continue a culture of evidence-based learning. [UN Press Release on Tedros Appointment] [WHO Press Release] [UN Press Release on Chan Statement] [Tedros Biography]