As Marisol Touraine’s mandate as Chair of the Executive Board comes to an end, the Executive Board wishes to express its profound gratitude for her outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment since 2019.
Beginning her tenure just before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Mrs. Touraine led the Board through one of the most complex periods in global health, reinforcing Unitaid’s position as a global health leader despite immense challenges. Drawing on her extensive political experience and her distinguished service as France’s Minister of Health and Social Affairs, she provided clarity, strength and strategic direction at a time of profound uncertainty.
Mrs. Touraine played an instrumental role in strengthening governance, enhancing Unitaid’s visibility internationally, and championing the needs of women and other underserved populations.
“Commitment, courage, passion and responsibility are qualities Marisol fully demonstrated during her years as Chair of the Executive Board,” said Ambassador Cecilia Ishitani, Vice-Chair of the Executive Board. “Her inspirational and visionary leadership has guided us through some of the greatest shifts in global health in decades.
“During her tenure, she guided the organization in reinforcing its focus on its core programmatic areas while putting its model to work for women’s health. And through this evolution, we remained faithful to the founding principles that inspired Unitaid’s creation nearly two decades ago – principles rooted in solidarity, shared responsibility and the belief that lifesaving health tools must be accessible to all.
“Marisol’s invaluable contribution – her strength, her clarity, her generosity of spirit – will continue to shape Unitaid’s work for years to come. She leaves us with a legacy of integrity and humanity that will inspire this organization long into the future.”
“I am profoundly grateful for the time, energy and passion that Mrs. Touraine has dedicated to her role at Unitaid,” said Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid. “With the clarity of a seasoned leader, she helped the Executive Board navigate at the right strategic altitude, ensuring that our deliberations focused on the issues that truly shape global health.
“Through her strong voice and tireless advocacy, she has elevated Unitaid’s visibility on the international stage, helping the world better understand the unique role we play. Her leadership has been especially important in bringing greater attention to women’s health – a population too often overlooked – and in keeping women, children and other neglected groups at the center of our mission. Her passion and commitment will leave a lasting imprint as we prepare to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.”
Moving forward, the Executive Board remains committed to building on the strong foundations Mrs. Touraine helped create and looks forward to continuing to benefit from her insights and longstanding commitment to global health.