Global Fund Board Elects New Chairman and Vice-Chairman – Press Releases

The Global Fund Board elects a brand new chairman and vice-chairman

June 2, 2026

– The Board of Directors of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) today announced that it has elected Erna Solberg, former Prime Minister of Norway, as its latest Chair and Javier Hourcade Bellocq, a world leader in public health and current member of the Global Fund’s Board of Directors, as Vice-Chair. They will serve a three-year term starting in late October.

is probably the most experienced politicians in Europe, who served as a member of the Norwegian Parliament for nearly forty years, eight years as Prime Minister (2013–2021) and over twenty years as leader of the Conservative Party. He combines executive leadership with extensive experience in multilateral governance, global health diplomacy and coalition management.

“The Global Fund has shown that multilateral cooperation can save lives, strengthen health systems and build resilience to future threats.” “At a time of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, protecting the gains made against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria is more important than ever. I am honored to lead the Global Fund’s Board of Directors and work with its distinguished members to achieve the partnership’s mission in these complex times.”

As prime minister, Solberg led coalition governments through economic reforms and the Covid-19 pandemic. Her international engagements included a concentrate on global health, development and epidemic preparedness. For example, during her time as Prime Minister, she was involved in establishing the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and in improving international coordination in the event of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. With South Africa, she co-founded and co-chaired the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), a worldwide collaboration to support the event and equitable distribution of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines in the course of the pandemic.

he has been deeply involved within the Global Fund from its inception and has served in various roles, including board member for community delegations and member of the strategy committee. He also participated in governance reform processes and was a member of the Technical Review Panel, providing insight into each governance and grantmaking mechanisms.

“The Global Fund is one of the strongest examples of effective international partnerships for global health” – . “I have seen firsthand how his ability to bring countries, communities and donors together to make an impact has saved 70 million people and changed lives. I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to support the Global Fund, its Board of Directors and the people at the heart of its mission.”

In addition to the Hourcade Global Fund, Bellocq has held leadership and advisory roles with key global health organizations, including UNAIDS, WHO, UNITAID, and the Pan American Health Organization, in addition to national governments in Latin America. His board experience includes serving as Chair of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), in addition to broader leadership roles in civil society and ongoing involvement in regional community-led initiatives.

Solberg and Hourcade Bellocq were chosen by the Global Fund Board following a competency-based selection process that began in December 2025 to discover the Global Fund’s best leadership pair. The process was led by the Council-appointed Nominating Committee, and on June 2, 2026, the total Council accomplished its vote to substantiate the brand new Chair and Vice-Chair.

Roslyn Morauta, current board chair, and Bience Gawanas, current vice chair, will proceed to guide the board until a leadership change in late October.