Statement From WFP USA’s Rick Leach on David Beasley Being Named The New Head of WFP

Published March 29, 2017

I welcome the announcement today by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva of the appointment of David Beasley of the United States to succeed Ertharin Cousin as Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP). Governor Beasley’s appointment continues America’s legacy of leadership in the fight to end global hunger.

His leadership comes at a critical turning point as conflict and natural disaster continue to push millions of people into hunger. This year, WFP aims to reach 86 million people in 77 countries with food assistance. I am confident that Governor Beasley has the vision, skills and deep personal commitment to meet the needs of food-insecure communities that struggle to survive in the most conflict-affected, disaster-prone and fragile places on the planet.

Throughout his public service, Governor Beasley has demonstrated the range of leadership and advocacy skills that will be crucial to both manage WFP and secure the support of key stakeholders. He understands the challenges of fundraising for an organization that relies entirely on voluntary donations and is committed to ensuring that WFP has the resources necessary to carry out its lifesaving and life-changing work in service of millions of the world’s most vulnerable.

World Food Program USA is very proud of the American legacy of leadership in feeding families in need. Over the past 50 years, U.S. leaders, policymakers and the American public have continuously demonstrated a shared understanding that overcoming hunger is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. Solving global hunger contributes to a stronger, more prosperous and more stable future.

In his new role as Executive Director of WFP, Governor Beasley faces an enormous task following in the footsteps of American leaders whose dedication to fighting global hunger has saved millions of lives across the globe.

I join the U.N. Secretary-General and the Director-General of FAO in expressing our appreciation to Ertharin Cousin for her dedicated leadership of WFP over the past five years.

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For more information and media interviews, contact:

M.J. Altman, Editorial Director, (202) 627-3932, mjaltman@wfpusa.org