JSI Welcomes EVP Muka Chikuba-McLeod as Interim President and CEO
September 23rd, 2024 | News
Muka Chikuba-McLeod will become JSI’s interim president and CEO effective October 1, 2024.
JSI Board Chair Sandro Galea congratulates two leaders on strategic succession at global nonprofit supporting locally led public health solutions in more than 40 countries
JSI, one of the world’s leading global public health organizations, has been engaged in a strategic evolution over the past three years to increase equity and localization, building on its 45 years of work improving lives around the world. The board of directors and CEO Margaret Crotty have announced that Muka Chikuba-McLeod will become interim president and CEO effective October 1. With an illustrious 22-year history leading some of JSI’s largest projects, Chikuba-McLeod became JSI’s first senior executive based outside the United States when she assumed the role of executive vice president of the International Division last year.
The appointment and planned transition reinforce the organization’s forward-looking strategy to advance global health equity, led by Crotty in partnership with Chikuba-McLeod. Initiated by Crotty after succeeding JSI’s founder nearly three years ago, this evolution responds to the needs of funders, partners, and partnering governments and is closely aligned with JSI’s own thought leadership on localization, a blueprint called Reimagining Technical Assistance.
“JSI is deeply grateful to Margaret for her visionary leadership that has transformed our organization with a strategic progression to country-led stewardship during a time of significant global change,” said board chair Sandro Galea. “And Muka has been instrumental in mentoring and leading these efforts on the ground. Together, they have ensured JSI’s dynamic and successful future of improving lives around the world.”
Key achievements under Crotty’s leadership include the transition to a country-led model; the consolidation of separately operating entities into one unified organization; a restructured business development function; the streamlining of governance structures; and the growth of JSI’s robust, international board. These changes will ensure that JSI responds to the increasingly decentralized needs in the global health, education, and socioeconomic sectors.
“It has been an enormous privilege to lead JSI,” said Crotty. “Muka is the right person at the right time to lead our extraordinary organization and continue to build on its groundbreaking history and impact. She is an experienced technical and clinical expert and an inspiring leader who will ensure that JSI continues to create fit-for-purpose solutions and support sustainable systems around the world.”
“It is a great honor to be appointed to lead JSI as interim president and CEO. I am energized about working with our highly committed staff and partners to meet the needs and reflect the voices of the communities we serve,” said Chikuba-McLeod. “With a continued focus on excellence, we will push boundaries and continue to innovate while advancing our mission of improving health and education outcomes globally.”
Chikuba-McLeod has served in senior and executive capacities at JSI since 2002, including chief of party for several of its largest global health initiatives and country representative in Zambia for five years. Her resume spans 30 years of experience in medicine, epidemiology, international health, and development and demonstrates a strong commitment to partnering with governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities. She has an MD from the University of Zambia, an MPH in international health from Boston University, and an MSc in epidemiology from Harvard University.
About JSI: JSI is a leading global NGO recognized for improving the lives of millions through health, education, and socioeconomic equity initiatives in more than 40 countries for over 45 years. Our team of more than 3,000 experts delivers complex, locally led solutions in partnership with governments, health professionals, civil society, and community leaders. JSI has expertise in supply chain management, data and digital transformation, immunization, and health system resilience, driving flagship funder investments that improve outcomes and build sustainable capacity.
