Mike Ryan, New DDG at WHO : Jenny Lei Ravelo / DEVEX

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Summary version in DEVEX

WHO is reshuffling its leadership team yet again, with Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of its health emergencies program, taking on the additional role of deputy director-general of WHO.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Ryan’s appointment in an internal email sent to staff that was seen by my colleague Jenny Lei Ravelo. As the new DDG, Ryan will represent Tedros internally and externally “on all matters delegated to him,” according to the April 4 email.

Ryan first joined WHO in 1996. He has worked in conflict settings and led numerous responses to contain disease outbreaks, including COVID-19 and the SARS epidemic.​​ He left the agency in 2011 and moved back to Ireland, but returned in 2017 when Tedros became head of the agency.

Zsuzsanna Jakab had been WHO’s deputy director-general since 2019. Tedros asked her to postpone her retirement in 2022 and stay on as his deputy as well as officer in charge of the regional office for Western Pacific “for some more time” amid a racism scandal at the Western Pacific office that saw its former director dismissed for misconduct.

Jakab retired in February, according to WHO.

In somewhat related news, there’s been another shake-up in the health world: Dr. Ebere Okereke has resigned as CEO of the Africa Public Health Foundation, which works to mobilize resources for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. She started the job in May last year and will depart from her role at the end of May. She tells my colleague Sara Jerving: “My decision is truly personal as I want to focus more intentionally on my passions and to have time for other interests.”

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