Dr. Mustapha Gidado is taking office as the new Executive Director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. He succeeds Kitty van Weezenbeek, who transferred to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1. Gidado has since held the position of interim director.
Gidado was previously the director of the KNCV-led and USAID-funded Challenge TB project (2015 – 2020), which contributed significantly to strengthening TB programs and services including capacity building for national and local organizations for optimal implementation and scale-up of appropriate TB interventions.
Mirella Visser, LLM, chair of the Board of Trustees: “Mustapha Gidado is widely recognized as TB expert with a strong network and connections in TB and in the public health world. He is an inspirational leader, passionate about evidence driven public health and TB elimination. The Board of Trustees is confident that Gidado has the leadership skills to move forward with KNCVs strategy and further strengthen KNCVs excellent reputation as leading technical agency in the international fight against TB. We are looking forward to continue working together with him as Executive Director on our mission: a world free of TB. Which since the start of KNCV in 1903 has been made possible by the outstanding support of our members, partners and donors.”
Gidado: “I wish to most sincerely thank the KNCV Board of Trustees for appointing me to the position of Executive Director, and the Management Team and the Works Council for their support. I take this trust, confidence and rare opportunity serious and I am humbled. I have interacted with KNCV since 2005 and was employed in 2012. Since then I served in different capacities within the organization. Therefore, I have a total conviction and alignment with KNCV values and principles, that I will continue to uphold and promote. I feel confident that with everyone’s support, I can provide quality and participatory leadership to KNCV guided by our Strategic Plan, to contribute to the global effort in the fight against TB.”
PICTURE: After the signing of his contract Executive Director Mustapha Gidado (left) gets handed over the symbolic KNCV gavel (dating back to 1904) by Mirella Visser, chair of the Board of Trustees.