By Colin Freund and Tim Tucker, m2m Board Chair and Vice-Chair 

At a moment of profound change for global health—and growing risk to hard-won progress across Africa—mothers2mothers (m2m) is entering its next chapter with clarity, urgency, and experienced leadership. 

We are pleased to share that Chad Rathner has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of mothers2mothers, following more than a decade of service, including as Interim CEO since May 2025. His permanent appointment reflects strong Board confidence in his leadership, proven performance under extraordinary pressure, and a clear vision for m2m’s future at an unprecedented time of change for global health and development. 

Why this moment matters 

Over the past year, the global health landscape has shifted dramatically. Abrupt and severe cuts to international development funding in 2025 placed millions of lives at risk and threatened to reverse decades of progress in HIV, maternal, newborn, and child health. For organisations delivering essential services at community levels—like m2m—the impact was immediate and deeply felt. 

This period also marked a leadership transition for mothers2mothers, with the departure of long-serving President and CEO Frank Beadle de Palomo. This combination of external shocks and internal change made continuity, credibility, and steady leadership more important than ever. 

Chad stepped into the Interim CEO role at this critical juncture—and helped guide the organisation through one of the most challenging periods in its history. 

Proven leadership under pressure 

As Interim CEO, Chad led an executive team that stabilised the organisation, secured additional revenue for 2025 and 2026, and guided a difficult but necessary strategic pivot and organisational restructuring, including re-imagining our country portfolio to focus our impact where it mattered most.  

These decisions were not easy, but they were essential. They ensured continuity of priority services, protected frontline services for the communities we serve wherever possible, and positioned the organisation to move forward with greater focus and resilience. 

Throughout this period, Chad consistently centred the people at the heart of m2m’s work—our communities and our frontline staff—making decisions with their realities, safety, and dignity firmly in mind. 

The right leader for this moment 

Alongside his exceptional performance during his period of interim leadership, Chad’s deep sector experience and personal background make him the right person to lead mothers2mothers at this moment. 

He brings 25 years of experience in global health and development, and has lived and worked on the African continent for more than 20 years. He also brings deep institutional knowledge of m2m, having served as Chief Operating Officer for 11 years prior to becoming Interim CEO. 

Why confidence is warranted—and urgency is rising 

Looking ahead, Chad will lead the development of a new organisational strategy at a moment when the world needs mothers2mothers more than ever. 

Risks to progress in HIV, maternal, newborn, and child health are rising, with hard-won gains increasingly fragile amid shrinking global investment. Standing still is not an option. What is needed now is a renewed focus on scaling what works—and doing so in close partnership with governments and health systems. 

Under Chad’s leadership, m2m will continue to deliver direct services where needs are greatest, while deepening its role as a health systems strengthening partner. This includes working with governments to embed paid, professional community health workers into national systems; advocating for community health at scale; and using technology responsibly to support frontline workers and improve quality, reach, and efficiency. 

A proven model, ready for what comes next 

Since 2001, we have demonstrated our ability to deliver impact at scale—reaching more than 17 million people across 13 countries and creating over 12,000 jobs for African women as trained, paid community health workers. 

Our Mentor Mother Model—built on trust, lived experience, and proximity—has delivered remarkable results, including helping to keep more than three million at-risk women and children alive, and a 0% mother-to-child HIV transmission rate among enrolled clients in 2023. Proven, scalable, and locally led models like m2m’s are essential to prevent backsliding and protect lives. 

With Chad Rathner as permanent CEO, mothers2mothers enters its next chapter with experienced leadership, clear direction, and renewed urgency to protect progress and scale life-saving, community-led health solutions across Africa. 

As always, our focus remains where it belongs: with the women, children, families, and frontline health workers who inspire and drive our work every day.