Dr. Ahmed Ogwell, a dynamic leader in global health, will join VillageReach as its incoming CEO in May 2025. With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Ogwell brings a wealth of expertise in advocating for and implementing systemic health reforms across Africa. His leadership is marked by a steadfast commitment to improving health outcomes through innovative strategies and collaborative efforts with governments, the private sector, and partners.
Most recently, Dr. Ogwell served as the Vice President of Global Health Strategy at the United Nations Foundation, where he managed a significant portfolio aligned with the UN’s key initiatives, including global health policy, advocacy, convening, thought leadership, and grant-making.
Dr. Ogwell’s extensive experience includes distinguished roles at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), where he played a key role in driving the vision for Africa’s New Public Health Order and managing the continent’s COVID-19 response. He has also had a major impact at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva and the Regional Office for Africa, where he applied global knowledge to tackle local-level health challenges. At Kenya’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Ogwell oversaw health diplomacy and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
As a public health expert, Dr. Ogwell’s areas of expertise include health emergencies, prevention and control of NCDs, health policy design, and global health diplomacy. He has led international health negotiations for policy change in Africa. A Kenyan national, Dr. Ogwell founded the Office for International Health Relations and the Department for NCDs at Kenya’s Ministry of Health. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Nairobi and the University of Bergen.
Reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Ogwell shared, “We are at a crucial moment where we must tackle the multifaceted challenges of global health, from infectious disease outbreaks to funding uncertainties. To do this, we must unite our efforts, innovate solutions, and strengthen health systems. VillageReach has been addressing complex health care challenges for 25 years. I am honored to join VillageReach at this critical time to confront these issues and achieve our 2030 goals.”
VillageReach is committed to its 2030 Strategy, now progressing into its second year. This strategy focuses on responsive primary health care, making health services more available when they are needed, adapting to changes in demand, and better absorbing shocks and stresses. The approach aims to reduce inequities in access to quality primary health care, with a focus on under-reached communities. Dr. Ogwell’s leadership will be essential in building on the strategy’s strong foundation and supporting national health plans.
Sena Kwawu, Board Chair of VillageReach, emphasized the challenges facing the organization in today’s global health landscape. “We are experiencing unprecedented change resulting from significant aid disruptions for many countries where we work. No one could have predicted this when we began searching for the right leader for VillageReach. With Dr. Ogwell’s deep knowledge of health systems in Africa and the robust 2030 Strategy we have in place, the Board is confident in his ability to navigate VillageReach through these mercurial times and continue making a meaningful impact.”
Dr. Ogwell will succeed Emily Bancroft, who has served as VillageReach’s CEO since 2017. Bancroft’s leadership was instrumental in the organization’s growth and success, increasing access to quality health care from 20 million to 111 million people during her tenure. VillageReach’s mission to transform health care delivery has never been more critical, and under Dr. Ogwell’s leadership, the organization is poised to continue making strides in ensuring under-reached communities receive the care they need to thrive.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VillageReach.
