An Indian-origin global health expert, Anil Soni, has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly launched The WHO Foundation, reported PTI.

The WHO Foundation works alongside the World Health Organisation to address most pressing health challenges across the world.

Soni will assume office as CEO on January 1, 2021. The health expert will be responsible to accelerate foundation’s “work to invest in innovative, evidence-based initiatives that support WHO in delivering on its mission to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all,” the Foundation said in a press statement on Monday.

An independent grant-making agency headquartered in Geneva, The World Foundation was launched in May 2020 to work alongside the WHO and the global health community to address the world’s most pressing global health challenges.

Soni joins the Foundation from Viatris, a global healthcare company, where he served as Head of Global Infectious Diseases.