Kirsi Madi Moves to UN Women as DED Resource Management, Sustainability, and Partnerships : Catherine Russell

Dear colleagues,

You may have seen earlier today the appointment by the UN Secretary General of our dear colleague Kirsi Madi to the position of Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships at UN Women. I know you will join me in congratulating her warmly and wishing her all the very best in this important new role.

I will greatly miss Kirsi in the Office of the Executive Director and at UNICEF. Kirsi has been in this role for nearly four years and has been my invaluable Chief of Staff and the Director of my office since I arrived at UNICEF. I could not have asked for a more capable and supportive partner. She provides steady and thoughtful guidance around the clock, and tirelessly works in support of UNICEF’s mandate and our priorities for children. I will miss her vast knowledge of UNICEF and the UN, and her deep wisdom and experience. But as we all know, once you are part of UNICEF you are always part of the family.

Kirsi will start at UN Women on 4 December 2023.

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Ted Maly, currently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, to succeed Kirsi as Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of the Executive Director. Ted’s professional experience, both in UNICEF and before joining UNICEF, his political acumen, and his interpersonal skills will be great assets to the organization in this role. Many of you know Ted and I know I can count on your support and collaboration as Ted assumes the new role on 4 December 2023.

Warm wishes,
Cathy Russell

Ms. Kirsi Madi of Finland - Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Kirsi Madi of Finland as Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to UN Women Director, Division of Management and Administration, Moez Doraid of Egypt, who will continue to serve as UN Women Deputy Executive Director ad interim, until Ms. Madi assumes her functions.

Currently serving as Director of the Executive Director’s Office and Chief of Staff in United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Ms. Madi brings over 30 years of experience working in the United Nations System in humanitarian affairs and development cooperation, in inter-agency coordination, inter-governmental relations, governance, partnerships and external relations.

Prior to this role, she held different leadership positions in the UN: Director of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia; Chief of National Committee Relations in the UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division; Secretary of the UNICEF Executive Board; and Chief of the Inter- Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Secretariat in the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Ms. Madi’s career in the United Nations started in 1991 when she joined UNICEF Office of Emergency Programmes. Before joining the United Nations Common System, she worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, in the Department for Development Cooperation as Programme Officer.

Ms. Madi holds a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Helsinki. She is fluent in English, French and Finnish.