By Editor
The Board of 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 for a four-year term beginning in early 2027.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday, October 28, at the organisation’s 56th Board Meeting, following a selection process supported by a global executive search firm.
Dybul previously led the Global Fund from 2013 to 2017 and played a key role in developing the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a long-standing partner of the organisation. He also served as the US Global AIDS Coordinator from 2006 to 2009.
His return comes at a time of changing global health financing, rapid scientific and technological advances, and growing emphasis on sustainable health systems and greater national ownership of health programmes.
Commenting on the appointment, Global Fund Board Chair, Lady Roslyn Morauta, described Dybul as an experienced global health leader with a strong record of delivering results.
“Mark brings exceptional experience, deep commitment and a proven track record of delivering results in global health,” Morauta said.
She added that his understanding of the Global Fund’s partnership model and his commitment to improving health outcomes in vulnerable communities would be valuable as the organisation adapts to changing global health priorities.
The Board’s Vice-Chair, Bience Gawanas, said Dybul’s leadership would be important in helping countries strengthen their capacity to manage and sustain their health systems.
“Mark understands that the future of global health depends on greater country ownership, self-reliance and sustainable health systems,” Gawanas said.
She expressed confidence that the organisation would support countries in accelerating the transition while ensuring that vulnerable communities continued to receive the attention and assistance they needed.
Before his appointment, Dybul served on the Accra Reset High-Level Panel on global health architecture and governance. He is also co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, which works with governments, researchers and academics to translate scientific and technological advances into practical health policies.
He is a tenured professor of medicine at Georgetown University and served on the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response from 2020 to 2021.
Dybul’s professional experience spans more than 25 years in HIV and public health, including work as a clinician, scientist, teacher and administrator. His career has focused on building effective health programmes and partnerships that support sustainable, country-owned and community-based healthcare.
Meanwhile, Peter Sands, who has served as the Global Fund’s Executive Director since 2018, will continue leading the organisation until Dybul formally assumes office.
The Board expressed appreciation for Sands’ leadership, particularly during a period of significant global health challenges and institutional transformation.
Under his leadership, the Global Fund mobilised record levels of financing, increased investments in health and community systems, and accelerated the introduction of new interventions, including next-generation mosquito nets, improved tuberculosis tests and long-acting HIV prevention tools.
The organisation said these efforts helped save millions of additional lives and accelerate progress against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
The leadership transition will also coincide with changes at the Board level, as Erna Solberg and Javier Hourcade Bellocq prepare to take over as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, from Morauta and Gawanas.
Solberg said the incoming leadership looked forward to working with Dybul to build on the Global Fund’s achievements while strengthening innovation and partnerships.
“Together, we will support countries in their efforts to build more sustainable, self-reliant health systems and accelerate progress toward ending AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria,” she said.
The appointment concludes a selection process that began on February 4, 2026, with a global outreach strategy designed to attract a diverse pool of qualified candidates from different regions and sectors.
The Global Fund is an international partnership that mobilises and invests resources to combat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria while strengthening health systems in countries affected by the diseases.
