Rick Santos Appointed President of IMA

It is with great pleasure that the IMA board of directors announces the appointment of Richard "Rick" Santos as the new President and CEO of IMA World Health. After conducting an in-depth nationwide search, IMA's board is pleased to have found in Rick a leader who possesses the experience, knowledge, passion and broad skill set necessary to continue IMA's dynamic period of accomplishment and growth. Rick will begin his work with IMA October 12, 2009, as president-elect, and after a short transition period will assume the full duties of President and CEO.

Living both in the U.S and abroad, Rick brings to the CEO position more than 15 years of rich experience in international development, including work and linkage with many of IMA's partners in the ecumenical community. He joins IMA from International Relief and Development (IRD), an organization based in Arlington, Virginia, where he has held the role of Director of Communications and Advocacy. Prior to that, Rick worked with Church World Service, Inc. (one of IMA's member agencies) where he held a series of key positions, including Coordinator of Strategic Planning and Evaluation, Coordinator of Technical Resource, Country Director for Indonesia, and Program Officer in Bangladesh and in Vietnam.

"We are confident that Rick's leadership of IMA will help us further achieve our mission to advance health and healing to vulnerable and marginalized people," said Dr. Donald Parker, chairman of IMA's board of directors. "We are confident, too, that under Rick's leadership IMA will continue to grow and to provide extraordinary levels of efficient and effective services."

"Rick brings to IMA strong senior management skills, including strategic planning and leadership experience both at headquarters and in the field," said Dr. Parker. He also notes that Rick has given leadership to a broad spectrum of large, complex programs, ranging from internally-focused areas such as program design, implementation, and logistics, to externally-focused programs such as donor outreach, external relations, public policy, and marketing.

Rick holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from George Washington University.

Current CEO Paul Derstine had announced in January 2009 his intent to retire, agreeing to stay in his position until a new leader was found. This has permitted IMA's board to proceed with the recruitment and hiring efforts in a well-planned and strategic process characteristic of Paul's leadership. Rick and Paul will work together during the transition period to ensure a productive and healthy leadership transfer, and to facilitate Rick's introduction to the many facets of IMA.

Under Rick's leadership, IMA will continue providing medicines, supplies, and targeted disease control, providing education and training in communities and among health care workers, and pursuing our goal of building sustainable systems of health care. Please join us as we enthusiastically welcome Rick to IMA World Health.