Global Communities Board of Trustees Announce Carrie Hessler-Radelet as Incoming President & CEO

Current CEO David A. Weiss to retire after more than a dozen years of leadership; VP of Humanitarian Assistance Pia Wanek promoted to lead integrated programs portfolio

Silver Spring, MD (March 21, 2022) – Following a meeting of Global Communities’ Board of Trustees, Chair Richard F. Celeste announced on behalf of the board that the organization’s current president, Carrie Hessler-Radelet, will assume the role of President & Chief Executive Officer on October 1, 2022.

Current Chief Executive Officer David A. Weiss informed the Trustees of his intent to retire after leading Global Communities for twelve and a half years and previously serving as a member of the board for seven years, including two years as chairman. After the leadership transition, Weiss will remain the Chair of the Vitas Group Board of Directors and will serve as a senior advisor to Global Communities until he retires in June of 2023.

“We are delighted to announce Carrie Hessler-Radelet as the next leader of Global Communities,” Celeste said. “Her exciting vision for the future, deep roots in the development community and commitment to a forward-looking approach to the biggest challenges facing our sector and our world make her the exact right person for the job.

“David Weiss has been an extraordinary leader, both as a board member and as CEO,” Celeste continued. “Under his leadership, CHF International became Global Communities, vastly expanded its financial inclusion, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development portfolios and delivered life-saving solutions in times of global crises. Through his leadership, Global Communities has a strong base from which to continue to innovate and grow. We wish David all the best as he enjoys his well-earned retirement.”

Following the merger of Project Concern International (PCI) and Global Communities in April 2020, the role of President & CEO was split, with Weiss serving as CEO and Hessler-Radelet as President. They will continue to work closely together in advance of the October 1 leadership transition.

“I am honored to support Global Communities’ thousands of dedicated team members as they work at the cutting edge of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion,” Hessler-Radelet said. “David has been an excellent leader and partner, and I admire all he has accomplished. Building on the foundation of nearly 70 years of history, our organization is well positioned to make the big, bold changes needed to expand the scale and impact of our life-saving work and lead our sector into the future.”

“It has been a privilege to work side-by-side with the talented, committed Global Communities team for more than a dozen years,” Weiss said. “Their focus on our mission inspires me each and every day, and I’m so pleased they will have a known and proven leader in Carrie. The future for our post-merger organization is brighter than ever, and I know that Global Communities will continue to make a life-changing impact around the world for many years to come.”

Following the Board’s decision, Hessler-Radelet announced the promotion of Pia Wanek, currently Global Communities’ Vice President of Humanitarian Assistance, to serve in the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Global Programs. With oversight over Global Communities’ wide range of Humanitarian Assistance and Sustainable Development programs, Wanek will lead an integrated portfolio best positioned to leverage learnings and expertise for greater impact.

“I am proud to step into this role and to bring together Global Communities’ decades of experience across Humanitarian Assistance and Sustainable Development,” Wanek said. “In partnership with our financial inclusion experts at the Vitas Group, Global Communities offers a truly comprehensive approach to working with communities to meet their most complex development challenges, even amid conflict or crisis. I appreciate the leadership and trust of both David and Carrie and look forward to working with our talented team at this exciting time in the organization’s history.”

Background

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. Learn more at globalcommunities.org.

Richard F. (Dick) Celeste chairs the Global Communities Board of Trustees. He has served as Director of the Peace Corps, U.S. Ambassador to India, and in elected office as a state legislator, Lieutenant Governor and for two terms as Governor of Ohio. From 2002-2011, he served as the 12th President of Colorado College.

Carrie Hessler-Radelet led PCI as President & CEO prior to its merger with Global Communities. She has also served as Director of the Peace Corps (2012-2017) and Deputy Director (2012-2015). She previously served as the Vice President and Director of the Washington D.C. office of John Snow, Inc. (JSI) and as lead consultant on the first Five-Year Global HIV/AIDS Strategy for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Her career in public health began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Western Samoa.

David Weiss became President & Chief Executive Officer of Global Communities (then CHF International) in 2010, having been a member of its board since 2004 and Chairman of the Board from 2008-2010. He previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the global law firm DLA Piper and spent 18 years with the federal government in a range of roles, including as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service and as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for North American Affairs in charge of NAFTA. He is a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Superior Honor Award.

Pia Wanek currently serves as the Vice President of Humanitarian Assistance at Global Communities. With more than 18 years of experience, she has directed Global Communities’ response to a range of crises from West Africa to Gaza, Syria, Yemen and beyond. She worked on emergency response programs at USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (now Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance) and supported policy teams at the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and in Consular Affairs.