By Admin
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has appointed Dr Mark Dybul as its next Executive Director, returning the physician and global health expert to the organisation he led from 2013 to 2017.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday, October 28, following the 56th meeting of the Global Fund Board. Dybul will begin his new four year term in early 2027, succeeding Peter Sands, who has led the organisation since 2018.
Dybul brings more than 25 years of experience in HIV and public health, spanning clinical practice, research, teaching and health administration. He also played a key role in developing the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, before serving as the US Global AIDS Coordinator from 2006 to 2009.
Global Fund Board Chair, Lady Roslyn Morauta, said Dybul's experience and record in global health made him well suited to lead the partnership at a time of significant changes in international health financing and priorities.
She said his understanding of the Global Fund's partnership model and commitment to innovative approaches would be important in sustaining progress towards ending AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
The incoming director's immediate priorities are expected to include helping countries build more sustainable health systems, strengthen local ownership of health programmes and reduce dependence on external assistance, while protecting vulnerable populations.
Global Fund Board Vice Chair, Bience Gawanas, said Dybul understood the importance of country ownership, self reliance and sustainable health systems, adding that the organisation would support countries to advance these goals without leaving disadvantaged communities behind.
Before his appointment, Dybul served on the Accra Reset High Level Panel on global health architecture and governance. He is a tenured professor of medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center and co founder and Chief Strategy Officer of the university's Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, which works to translate health research and technology into practical policies.
He was also a member of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response from 2020 to 2021 and chairs Purpose Africa.
Sands will remain in office until Dybul assumes his new position, ensuring continuity during the leadership transition.
Since taking over in 2018, Sands has guided the Global Fund through major global health emergencies and changes in international development financing. Under his leadership, the organisation mobilised record levels of funding, increased investment in health and community systems, and supported the rollout of innovations including next generation mosquito nets, improved tuberculosis diagnostic tests and long acting HIV prevention tools.
Morauta commended Sands for his leadership, saying his continued commitment would help maintain the organisation's focus on its life saving mission during the transition.
The leadership change also coincides with a transition at Board level. Erna Solberg will take over as Chair, while Javier Hourcade Bellocq will become Vice Chair, succeeding Morauta and Gawanas.
Solberg said the incoming leadership looked forward to working with Dybul to build on the Global Fund's achievements, strengthen partnerships and help countries develop more resilient health systems.
Dybul's selection followed a global recruitment exercise supported by an executive search firm. The process began on February 4, 2026, with a strategy designed to attract qualified candidates from different regions and professional backgrounds.
Established in 2002, the Global Fund is an international financing partnership that supports programmes to prevent and treat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, while strengthening health systems in countries affected by the diseases.
Its next leadership team will face the challenge of sustaining gains against the three epidemics amid changing funding conditions, scientific advances and shifting global health priorities.
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