By Anindita Nayak
Bhubaneswar, 14 May:
Melinda French Gates has announced to step down from her position as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from June 7.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the most influential organisations in the world that supports various charitable across the spectrum.
“My last day of work at the foundation will be June 7,” she posted on social media platform X. She emphasized that this wasn’t a choice she made lightly stating, “The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy”.
“Under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families,” said Melinda Gates. She mentioned that she will share more about her charity plans in the near future.
The name of the foundation will change to the Gates Foundation “to honor Bill Sr.’s legacy and Melinda’s contributions”, said the CEO of the Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman. “Bill will become the sole Chair of the foundation,” Suzman added further.
“Ms French Gates made this decision after considerable reflection, based on how she wants to spend the next chapter of her philanthropy,” said Suzman.
“Melinda has new ideas about the role she wants to play in improving the lives of women and families in the US and around the world. And, after a difficult few years watching women’s rights rolled back in the US and around the world, she wants to use this next chapter to focus specifically on altering that trajectory,” he said in a statement further.
Describing it as “very sad news” that will take time for people to digest, Suzman emphasized that many were attracted to the foundation due to French Gates’ leadership on a global scale, “particularly in gender equality, and her ability to connect our work to the people who need support the most”.
“This is difficult news for me, too. Like you, I truly admire Melinda, and I will deeply miss working with her and learning from her, he said.,” he said.
