Stop TB Partnership aims to end TB working closely with the Global Fund and the newly elected Executive Director Peter Sands

14 November 2017 - Geneva, Switzerland - Stop TB Partnership welcomes the appointment of Peter Sands who today was selected to lead the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria as the next Executive Director.

As the new Executive Director, he will oversee and guide the implementation of the Global Fund’s ambitious 2017-2022 strategy, designed to maximize impact against HIV, TB and malaria and build resilient and sustainable systems for health. His extensive experience in the private sector will be key to expanding global and domestic financial support and engaging new partners in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria.

Additionally, his work on pandemic preparedness and microbial threats will help position the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria in the broader sphere of global health security, helping countries build strong health systems to respond to emerging threats to health.

The Stop TB Partnership works closely with the Global Fund to ensure that adequate investments are made in high TB burden countries in a manner that will maximize impact and the Global Fund TB grants are effectively used by countries to make rapid progress towards ending TB.

After a distinguished career in banking where he was formerly a chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Mr Sands has dedicated his extensive management and financial expertise to address major global health challenges including financing pandemic preparedness, ensuring access to affordable drugs, and microbial threats. He is currently the Chairman of the World Bank’s International Working Group on Financing Pandemic Preparedness, and a research fellow at the Harvard Global Health Institute and the Mossavar Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Welcoming his appointment, Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership said, "The Global Fund is one of our closest partners and we have big plans in working together with the Secretariat and the new Executive Director towards ending TB. I am confident that the new Executive Director - Peter Sands - will continue the great partnership efforts we have built together over the years with the Global Fund."

Peter Sands, who is from the United Kingdom, graduated from Brasenose College, Oxford University with a First Class degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He also received a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University.