Washington, D.C., February 7, 2019 --- Charles North, a seasoned and respected international development executive, has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The new position has been created to strengthen Secretariat management as GPE pursues an ambitious agenda to improve education outcomes for the world’s most marginalized children.
Mr. North brings knowledge and expertise implementing results-based strategies in global education and across other development fields as well as extensive management experience. Previously, he served as acting Assistant Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment where he led 300 technical experts and other professionals across 14 offices. Since 2017 Mr. North was a senior advisor at the United States Institute for Peace.
“I warmly welcome Charles to the new leadership position,” said Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Vice Chair of the Global Partnership for Education’s Board of Directors who helped to finalize the selection process following an extensive executive search process. “He brings skills that complement those of the CEO and will bolster the drive to even greater effectiveness within the Secretariat and across the partnership.”
“I am delighted that Charles is joining the GPE Secretariat,” said Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer, Global Partnership for Education. “His management experience and leadership skills will foster excellence in GPE’s corporate strategic planning and organizational development.”
Mr. North has been a highly valued member of the GPE Board of Directors representing the United States for almost three years.
During his work at USAID, he strengthened technical leadership and accountability in the agency and ensured that regional and country programs were aligned with the global strategy. In addition, Mr. North brings significant country experience having worked for more than 17 years in countries such as El Salvador, Kenya, Mozambique, Sudan, Russia and Tanzania and on country programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Ukraine. He also championed gender equality in all technical areas of the agency.
Mr. North holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University, a Master of Public and Private Management from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and African Studies) from Wesleyan University.
Mr. North will take up the role of Deputy CEO at the Global Partnership for Education Secretariat on March 1, 2019.