Americares Names New Deputy Senior Vice President and Country Team Liaison

Stamford, Conn. – May 10, 2023 – Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, is pleased to announce the promotion of Shripad Desai to deputy senior vice president and country team liaison. In this elevated role, Desai is responsible for working directly with Americares country team leaders in Colombia, El Salvador, India, Liberia, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Tanzania, to build and sustain the organization’s local/global operating model. Desai supports country teams managing programs at the local level, as well as ensures country directors provide input into decisions made by Americares global leadership team.

Desai also serves as a member of Americares senior Leadership Team, supporting the CEO and chief program officer in implementing the strategy and achieving the mission of the health-focused relief and development organization.

“Shripad is a talented leader who brings a wealth of experience to this key leadership role,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “He has made significant contributions throughout his tenure, notably the growth and success of Americares health programs in India, and we are excited to have him play an integral role on our path toward locally led development.”

Desai brings to Americares more than three decades of experience working across the health care and development sectors. He joined the organization in 2012 and served as managing director of Americares India for ten years, where he played a pivotal role in the growth of Americares work across India, expanding its health programming to 23 states and increasing its workforce to more than 160 team members. He oversaw the operation of 13 mobile health centers, a school-based health program reaching 79 schools as well as Americares India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Desai also had oversight of the Americares India warehouse, which serves as a global distribution hub for the region.

Most recently, Desai served as senior director of Americares Asia and Eurasia programs, where he led the organization’s health programs in the region, oversaw its deliveries of medicines and medical supplies to partner organizations in nine countries and had oversight of Americares teams in India and the Philippines.

“I am honored and excited to be taking on this new role and I look forward to working hand-in-hand with Americares country team leaders to advance our mission of saving lives and improving health for people affected by poverty or disaster,” said Desai.

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential. Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase access, availability, affordability and acceptability of medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand health services; and prevent disease and promote good health. Since it was established more than 40 years ago, Americares has provided $22 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.

Prior to joining Americares India, Desai worked for Chiron Panacea Vaccines (a Novartis joint venture), Oral CDx India, Novartis, Sanofi and AstraZeneca.

He earned a master’s degree in marketing management and a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Mumbai. He is pursuing doctoral research in public health from IIHMR University in Jaipur.

He lives in Mumbai with his wife Shamala.