Leadership

Scientific Advisory Committee
Bill Gates
Melinda French Gates
William H. Gates Sr.
Warren Buffett

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Leadership

Leadership

The foundation’s leaders come from a broad range of backgrounds and have a diversity of expertise and experience that spans science and technology, medicine, public policy, education, communications, law, and business. Our leaders are guided by the foundation’s mission to create a world in which every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.

Executive Team

Mark Suzman

CEO, Board Member

Mark Suzman leads the foundation's efforts to promote equity for all people around the world.

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Carolyn Ainslie

Chief Financial Officer

Carolyn Ainslie oversees all finance and resource planning functions for the foundation.

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Lauren Bright

Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary

Lauren W. Bright leads the foundation’s legal team and is responsible for all legal matters and activities pertaining to the foundation and its affiliate organizations.

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Alex Reid

Chief Communications Officer

Alex Reid leads communications for the foundation and is responsible for the strategic use of voice to amplify the foundation’s philanthropic role and impact.

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Shana Tarbell

Chief Operating Officer

Shana Tarbell is responsible for much of the foundation’s daily operations, overseeing several teams: Global Security, Facilities, Events, and Travel; Information Technology; Grants and Contracts Services; and Business Design.

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Ankur Vora

Chief Strategy Officer

Ankur Vora serves as a principal advisor to the co-chairs, chief executive officer, and Executive Leadership Team on the foundation's overall strategic opportunities, risks, and tradeoffs.

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June Yoshinari Davis

Chief People Officer

June Yoshinari Davis leads the foundation’s people-centered strategies across talent, culture, and organizational effectiveness, which includes human resources and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Christopher J. Elias

President, Global Development

Dr. Chris Elias leads the foundation’s efforts to strengthen the systems that make health care more accessible, equitable, and effective.

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Gargee Ghosh

President, Global Policy & Advocacy

Gargee Ghosh leads the foundation’s worldwide government affairs, development policy, resource mobilization partnerships, and advocacy campaigns.

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Allan C. Golston

President, U.S. Program

Allan C. Golston leads the foundation’s efforts to help all students in the United States graduate from high school, earn a college degree, and find a good job.

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Trevor Mundel

President, Global Health

Trevor Mundel leads the foundation’s efforts to develop high-impact interventions against the leading causes of death and disability in developing countries.

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Rodger Voorhies

President, Global Growth & Opportunity

Rodger Voorhies leads the foundation’s work focused on reducing the underlying causes of systemic poverty, including agricultural development, sanitation, financial services, and global education.

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Anita Zaidi

President, Gender Equality Division

Dr. Anita Zaidi oversees efforts to advance gender equality in all of the foundation’s global work.

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Chair and Governing Board

Bill Gates

Chair, Board Member

As chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates shapes and approves foundation strategies, advocates for the foundation’s issues, and sets the organization’s overall direction.

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Mark Suzman

CEO, Board Member

Mark Suzman leads the foundation's efforts to promote equity for all people around the world.

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Ashish Dhawan

Board Member

Ashish Dhawan is the founder and CEO of the Convergence Foundation (TCF), which is focused on accelerating India’s economic growth and development. He is also the chairperson of Ashoka University.

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Helene Gayle

Board Member

Dr. Helene D. Gayle served as president of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Strive Masiyiwa

Board Member

Strive Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean based in London and an international business leader.

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Minouche Shafik

Board Member*

Baroness Nemat (Minouche) Shafik is a leading economist, whose career spans public policy and academia. She is currently on leave from her foundation role.

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Tom Tierney

Board Member

Tom Tierney co-founded The Bridgespan Group, an independent global nonprofit focused on helping philanthropists and nonprofit leaders achieve breakthrough results.

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Scientific Advisory Committee

Our Scientific Advisory Committee comprises a group of esteemed experts from outside of the foundation who offer a wide range of experiences and perspectives. This group plays an important role in strengthening our work by offering independent assessments of our Global Health Division strategies and helping us evaluate results.

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Meet our leaders

Historical leadership

Melinda French Gates

Co-chair (2000-2024)

Connect:

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, businesswoman, and global advocate for women and girls. She founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation.

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William Gates Sr.

Co-chair 2000-2020 (d. 2020)

William H. Gates Sr. (d. 2020) guided the vision and strategic direction of the foundation and served as an advocate for the foundation’s key issues.

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Warren Buffett

Trustee 2006-2021 (emeritus 2021)

Warren Buffett helped shape our vision and developed strategies to address some of the world’s most challenging inequities.

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More about the foundation

Our story

Learn about the origins of the foundation and the values that drive our work.

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Our work

Learn about where we work around the globe and the programs we've created to address urgent issues in global health, global development, and education.

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Ideas

Read the latest stories, research, and news from across the foundation and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Optimist.

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