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.

Ancienne directrice des opérations de la Fondation OMS, Karen Hitschke est biologiste de formation, investisseuse, membre de conseils d'administration, dirigeante et coach exécutive certifiée. Elle cumule plus de 25 ans d'expérience dans les secteurs de la biotechnologie, du capital-risque, du conseil, de l'entrepreneuriat social et de l'investissement à impact. Diplômée initialement en biologie, elle est titulaire d'un MBA de l'INSEAD à Fontainebleau, en France. Son parcours professionnel est riche et varié, couvrant les secteurs lucratif et non lucratif. Karen siège actuellement à plusieurs conseils d'administration et occupe des fonctions consultatives. Elle est notamment membre du conseil d'administration, cofondatrice et ancienne directrice générale de Yunus Social Business Global Initiatives, une organisation pionnière en matière d'investissement à impact qui finance des entreprises sociales en Inde, en Afrique de l'Est et en Amérique latine.

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.