Joe Cerrell is director of Global Health Policy and Advocacy for the foundation. He oversees the foundation's global health communications, public policy, and international finance. In this capacity, Cerrell manages a policy and advocacy grantmaking portfolio, and oversees relations with governments, NGOs, the private sector, multilateral organizations, and other foundations.
Prior to joining the foundation, Cerrell served as assistant press secretary to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. He was a senior member of a team responsible for advising the vice president on energy and environmental issues, and was a White House liaison to the media, elected officials, and industry, environmental, religious, and labor leaders. Cerrell also acted as U.S. spokesperson for numerous vice-presidential international state visits.
Cerrell provided communications support and served as an advisor for three U.S. presidential campaigns. He was vice president of the philanthropy practice at APCO Worldwide, overseeing the agency's nonprofit and foundation clients. He currently serves on the board of directors for the ONE Campaign, UNITAID, the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, and the Music National Service Initiative. He is also an advisory board member of the Clinton Global Initiative.
Cerrell received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California.