Family Health International Announces Appointment of Marjorie Newman-Williams as Chief Operating Officer

30-Year Veteran of Nonprofit Health and Development Organizations to Lead Global Health and Development at Family Health International

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Health International (FHI), a leading global nonprofit public health and development organization, today announced the appointment of Marjorie Newman-Williams as Chief Operating Officer.

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Ms. Newman-Williams replaces Sheila Mitchell, a long-time FHI executive who has served as interim COO since last spring and will now step down to a planned part-time role as Senior Vice President.

Ms. Newman-Williams was most recently Chief Operating Officer of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and previously served for 28 years with UNICEF, leading far-reaching change management initiatives at both organizations. At CDF, these efforts involved strategic planning, recruiting a new leadership team, improving efficiency of advocacy and program delivery, developing a new information technology strategy, and revamping development.

At UNICEF, Ms. Newman-Williams led initiatives in information technology, planning and budgeting, crisis management, and business continuity, and she also delivered an influenza pandemic preparedness plan. From 2004 to 2006, she was seconded to the Pan American Health Organization, where she developed its Roadmap for Organization Transformation. Ms. Newman-Williams also served as a UNICEF Country Representative, Communication Director, and Deputy Director of the Program Department.

Dr. Albert J. Siemens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Family Health International, said, "Marjorie Newman-Williams has demonstrated over the last three decades that she has the dynamic leadership skills to drive Family Health International's efforts to transform public health and development. Her analytical and evidence-based approach, creativity, and motivational ability are keys to success as FHI continues to build on its unmatched platform of people, international presence, partnerships and expand its scope."

Ms. Mitchell, who has served with FHI since joining the organization from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1987, will continue as Senior Vice President, initially assuring a smooth transition and then focusing on strategic initiatives to help build FHI's future international impact.

Dr. Siemens said, "Sheila Mitchell has done an outstanding job in establishing our new COO position and putting us on track to achieve our objectives of improving the effectiveness of our scientific and program-delivery efforts and uniting our staff. We are deeply grateful for her leadership in her most recent post and throughout more than two decades of service to FHI. I am delighted that she will stay with us in a part-time role to assist our transition and put her skills to work in critical projects."

About Family Health International

Family Health International is a public health and development organization working to improve the lives of the world's most vulnerable people. Our 2,500 staff work in 55 countries, conducting research and implementing programs that advance public health and build local capacity to address development problems. Since 1971, Family Health International has been a global leader in family planning and reproductive health and, since 1986, in the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS. Our research and programs also address malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious and chronic diseases. Our partners include US and international agencies, governments, foundations, research institutions, and individual donors. For more information on Family Health International, please visit www.fhi.org.

SOURCE Family Health International