GAVI announces David Marlow as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Gavi

As Nigeria’s Muhammad Pate rescinds decision, accepts request to return and contribute to Nigeria

The Gavi Board has announced the appointment of David Marlow, currently Gavi’s Chief Operating Officer, as the Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective 3 August 2023.

According to the Vaccine Alliance, the appointment follows a communication from Dr Muhammad Pate, who had been approved by the Gavi Board in February to become Gavi’s next CEO, that he will not be able to join Gavi. Dr Pate informed the Gavi Board Chair and Vice Chair that he has taken an incredibly difficult decision to accept a request to return and contribute to his home country, Nigeria.

Gavi in a statement obtained by The Guardian, saud that “Gavi fully respects the decision and wishes Dr Pate the very best for the future. On informing Gavi, Dr Pate thanked the Chair of the Gavi Board, José Manuel Barroso, the diverse set of Gavi Board members and partners, current CEO Dr. Seth Berkley, and the Secretariat staff for their support over the last few months, commenting that he will remain a steadfast champion of the Gavi mission.

“The Gavi Board is delighted that Mr Marlow has accepted this responsibility and has full confidence in the strength of the Gavi leadership team and the Alliance to support this transition.

” The Gavi Board is committed to delivering on its mission and strategic priorities while it conducts a search for the next CEO”, it added.

The Board of GAVI had earlier this year, approved the appointment of Pate as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Vaccine Alliance following an extensive recruitment process.

He was selected following a year-long recruitment process personally overseen by the Chairman of the GAVI Board, Prof José Manuel Barroso. Pate was expected to resume the role on August 3, thereby replacing Dr Seth Berkley, who will be stepping down after 12 years.

The Federal government mproved and brightened Nigeria’s chances of commencing local production of vaccines.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 981 million children – and prevented more than 16.2 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 lower-income countries.

Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningococcal and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, above all the zero-dose children who have not received even a single vaccine shot. The Vaccine Alliance employs innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Gavi is a co-convener of COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, together with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. In its role, Gavi is focused on procurement and delivery for COVAX: coordinating the design, implementation and administration of the COVAX Facility and the Gavi COVAX AMC and working with its Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO, along with governments, on country readiness and delivery.

The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organisations that fund Gavi’s work here.