Toronto, ON, January 13, 2025 – Plan International is delighted to announce UN’s Reena Ghelani as its new global Chief Executive Officer following a global search.

Reena Ghelani will begin her role as Plan International's Chief Executive Officer in April 2025.

Ghelani has extensive international executive leadership experience in the humanitarian and development sector. She joins Plan International from her current role as UN Assistant Secretary General – Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño / La Niña Response, having previously served at senior levels in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and roles in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“I am excited and honoured to be joining Plan International as CEO,” said Ghelani. “I am deeply inspired by the organisation’s girl-focused strategy and youth-centred approach to its development and humanitarian work. I have been impressed with Plan from afar, now I get the chance to help a skilled team across the globe have even more impact for girls and all children in a world that seems to need us more than ever.”

 

“We are delighted to have such a talented and well-regarded sector professional join our organisation,” said Gunvor Kronman, Chair of the Members’ Assembly and International Board of Plan International. “Reena can drive us as we realise our ambition to scale-up our humanitarian work, deepening our gender transformative and girl-focused responses in crises settings, alongside our existing development work which has localisation at its heart. Together these areas ensure we are an INGO that is fit for the future.”

Debbie Simpson will continue to serve as Plan International’s Interim Chief Executive until Ghelani joins in April 2025. Lindsay Glassco continues in her role as President and CEO of Plan International Canada.

About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and is now active in more than 80 countries. We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind or not equally valued. We’re determined optimists and will continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Visit plancanada.ca for more information.

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