Three new members join PATH's board of directors

PATH's board of directors welcomed three new members–Tsitsi Masiyiwa, Ireena Vittal, and Yehong Zhang–to serve on the organization's board, effective immediately. They have impressive backgrounds ranging from philanthropy to the private sector in countries as diverse as China, India, and Zimbabwe.

"We welcome the contributions of these three individuals to PATH's board," said Dean Allen, chair of PATH's board of directors. "As the leader in global health innovation, PATH will benefit greatly from their deep leadership experience and visionary guidance."

Tsitsi Masiyiwa is the executive chairperson of the Higher Life Foundation (HLF), which she founded with her husband, Mr. Strive Masiyiwa. She heads up HLF's five trusts that address specific developmental and social needs of African communities. The trusts have a specific focus on education, healthcare, and technology, and their flagship Trust, Capernaum Trust, presently the largest privately-funded scholarship program in Sub-Saharan Africa, provides full scholarships to students in primary school, high school, and university.

Masiyiwa takes a practical approach to poverty eradication by spearheading the use of technology and innovation in HLF's programs to facilitate efficient, scalable, and sustainable impact. Masiyiwa is also a founding member of the African Philanthropy Forum and is a member of the Advisory Council for the Global Philanthropy Forum.

Ireena Vittal has significant expertise in emerging markets, Indian agriculture, and urbanization. She has contributed in a variety of private-sector roles, most recently as partner at McKinsey & Co., where she was a founding member of both the economic development and global emerging markets practices. Prior to her 16-year tenure at McKinsey, Vittal held positions at Max Touch (now Vodafone) and Nestlé.

Vittal is an independent advisor to a range of companies, including Godrej Consumer, AXIS Bank, Wipro Ltd., Tata Global Beverages, the Indian Hotels Company, and Titan Company, and serves on the global advisory board of ideo.org. Vittal received a Bachelor of Science in Electronics from Osmania University and Master in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Yehong Zhang serves as general manager, Greater China, for Aetna International, a leading global health insurance company. Dr. Zhang has 25 years of global health care experience, most of which is in greater China. Previously, he was CEO of Simcere MSD, president of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, McKinsey China Healthcare Practice Leader, and president of Merck China.

Dr. Zhang received his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, Master in Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.

• Our board of directors

Posted December 19, 2014.