Building Bridges welcomes Karen Hitschke, as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 21, 2024. In her new role based in Geneva, Karen will lead the evolution of the Building Bridges Foundation into its next phase of impact and growth, fostering progress towards a more sustainable financial system.

Karen Hitschke, exdirectora de operaciones de la Fundación OMS, es bióloga, inversora, miembro de consejos de administración, ejecutiva y coach ejecutiva certificada, con más de 25 años de experiencia en los sectores de biotecnología, capital riesgo, consultoría, emprendimiento social e inversión de impacto. Licenciada en Biología, cuenta con un MBA del INSEAD de Fontainebleau, Francia, y su trayectoria profesional abarca diversos puestos tanto en el sector público como en el privado. Actualmente, Karen forma parte de varios consejos de administración y ejerce funciones de asesoramiento. Además, es miembro del consejo, cofundadora y exdirectora general de Yunus Social Business Global Initiatives, una organización pionera en inversión de impacto que financia emprendimientos sociales en India, África Oriental y Latinoamérica.

As a firm believer in bringing together people, cultures, and ideas to transform business and society, Karen has a profound commitment to driving positive change. “I am thrilled about the opportunity to work together with such a wide range of stakeholders bridging the for-profit, non-profit, impact investing and public sector” says Karen. “Only through collaboration across sectors and across nations can we help shape an economic system where business and finance are applied for the good of society and the planet. This is the mission of the Building Bridges Foundation and I am honored to lead the organization through this transformative next phase.”

 

Patrick Odier, Chair of Building Bridges, comments:

We are delighted to welcome Karen as the new CEO of the Building Bridges Foundation. Her deep knowledge of finance, in both the public and private sector throughout multiple geographies, lies at the heart of the initiative and will support the execution of our mission to further align finance with sustainability.