Today, we are sharing the news that mothers2mothers’ (m2m’s) President and CEO, Frank Beadle de Palomo, has decided to step down after 13 years of leadership. Chad Rathner, currently serving as m2m’s Chief Operating Officer, will become Interim CEO. The transition will be effective as of 30 April 2025, and a search for a new permanent CEO will begin later in 2025.

While Frank is stepping down as CEO, he is not leaving m2m in the near future. Instead, he will move into a “CEO Emeritus” role, expected to last at least through the end of October 2025. In this new position, he will focus his energies on assessing the profound changes that have taken place in our environment, supporting the leadership team in strategically repositioning the organisation for the future, and acting as an ambassador and champion for m2m. Further, this transition will also allow him to relocate to the U.S., where his family is now based.

Frank’s achievements at m2m have been remarkable. During his tenure, he has transformed m2m from a narrow focus on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV into the integrated primary healthcare organisation we are today. Under Frank’s leadership, m2m has started operations in six additional countries, doubled average revenue (from an average of $19M between 2010–2012 to an average of $38M between 2021-2023), collectively delivered services to more than 13M people, and created thousands of jobs for African women living with HIV. In 2023, m2m and its partners achieved what was once thought to be impossible—a 0% mother-to-child transmission rate for our enrolled clients.

Frank and our Boards are delighted that Chad Rathner has agreed to step into the Interim CEO role. Chad has been COO of m2m for more than a decade, has more than 20 years of professional experience across the African continent, and is closely connected to our key partners. He is also supported by an experienced executive leadership team, who collectively have more than 50 years of service to m2m and are all based full time on the African continent. Along with Chad, the leadership team is committed to ensuring m2m’s continued impact for the communities we serve.

Fuller details are available in our press release here, and we look forward to continuing to bring health care to families who need it most, delivered by women who know them best, even at this time of unprecedented change across the public health sector.