By Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Health, Muhammad Pate, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the vaccine alliance, GAVI.
In a statement on Monday, Gavi said Pate was appointed as CEO following a year-long recruitment process overseen by Jose Barraso, chairperson of the Gavi board.
Dr Pate will take over as the CEO of Gavi from Dr Seth Berkley on August 3, 2023.
Commenting on the appointment, the Chair of the Gavi Board, José Barroso, said: “Dr Muhammad Ali Pate stood out in a field of world-class candidates. With his knowledge and experience of both national immunization programming and international emergency response and global finance, I am confident that Gavi will continue to build on its vision and mission, as well as navigate the many challenges and opportunities we will face.”
Speaking on his appointment, Dr Pate said, “I’m deeply honoured to be joining Gavi as its incoming CEO. Gavi is one of the most impactful organisations in global health, a testament to the great work of the Alliance partners and Secretariat staff. It will be my privilege to lead it, building on the work of Dr Seth Berkley, and continue to support countries to scale up critical routine immunisation programmes, reach more zero-dose children, expand access to new vaccines, transform primary health care systems, and help fight outbreaks and future pandemics.”
Commenting on Pate’s appointment, Seth Berkley, current Gavi CEO, said he is confident in Gavi’s future under his successor’s leadership, having worked with him during Pate’s time as minister and at the World Bank.
“I know he understands intimately the landscape we work in and will be uncompromising in his drive for public health equity,” Berkley said.
