Charles “Chip” Lyons Named as New President and CEO of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
7/30/2009
Veteran of UNICEF and the Gates Foundation Brings Extensive Experience to Foundation
Washington, D.C.—Dr. David Kessler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, announced today that Charles “Chip” Lyons has been named as the new president and CEO of the Foundation, succeeding Pamela W. Barnes. His official start date will be January 4, 2010.
“Chip joins the Foundation with a wealth and breadth of expertise that I know will prove invaluable in furthering the mission of our work both here in the U.S. and around the world,” Dr. Kessler said.
Lyons currently serves as the Director of Special Initiatives in the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading a learning and grantmaking team that addresses key crosscutting development issues that are central to reducing poverty and creating opportunity. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Lyons held several positions at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), including president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, chief of staff to the executive director at UNICEF headquarters, and program officer, UNICEF Mozambique. Lyons has also worked closely with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), serving on the board and executive committee, and as chair of the executive committee of The GAVI Fund from 2004 to 2006. He serves as a member of the HIV Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch, and was a co-chair of Rugmark, USA. Lyons holds a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in Minnesota.
In accepting his new role at the Foundation, Lyons said, “I am delighted to join the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Its exceptional worldwide reputation and the extraordinary impact it has made in the lives of women and children in those countries hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic should be applauded. I am honored to continue this excellent work, initiated by Pam Barnes, her team around the world, and the Board.”
Dr. Kessler added, “As we welcome Chip, I must also say I am particularly grateful to Pam Barnes, who has been with the Foundation for nearly five years, as our President and CEO. Under Pam’s strategic and thoughtful leadership, the Foundation has yearly revenues that exceed $120 million per year, created excellent relations with global governments and partner organizations, and initiated highly successful domestic and global advocacy efforts. Today, the Foundation is the global leader in pediatric HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. We work in 18 countries and at more than 3,700 sites globally, leading the way in expanding services to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.”
To ensure a smooth transition, Barnes will remain as president and CEO of the Foundation until November. Barnes noted, “The next chapter for the Foundation is one full of promise and growth, with a clearly defined and focused mission, unambiguous goals, and an incredible staff to execute the work. My time here has been exceedingly rewarding, and I am most proud of our efforts to scale up PMTCT, eradicate pediatric AIDS, and create a generation free of HIV.”
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About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
For the past 20 years, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has been a worldwide leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS. Its innovative research programs, collaborative training initiatives, advocacy efforts, and rapidly expanding international prevention and treatment programs are bringing dramatic changes to the lives of children worldwide.