FILIPPO GRANDI APPOINTED INCOMING CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL

Toronto, September 29, 2026 – Save the Children International is delighted to announce that Filippo Grandi, a global humanitarian leader for over four decades, has been appointed as the new chair of its Board of Trustees, taking up the position in January 2027.

Mr. Grandi, who served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 2016 to 2025, will replace American British businesswoman Angela Ahrendts who has played a pivotal role in the past six years helping drive the organisation’s global strategy and impact for children at an unprecedented time in the humanitarian sector.

Mr. Grandi, 69, an Italian, has been engaged in refugee and humanitarian work for more than 30 years. He previously led the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) and has worked with NGOs and UNHCR in Africa, Asia, the Middle East. He was awarded the Olympic Laurel at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“I am proud to join Save the Children as Board Chair at a time when children are facing unprecedented challenges, from conflict and displacement to inequality and climate-driven emergencies. My experience working with people in humanitarian crises and often forced to flee their homes has shown me both the devastating impact of those crises on children and the importance of acting early, decisively and in a sustainable manner. Save the Children has been a powerful advocate for children for more than a century, and I look forward to helping strengthen that mission at a moment when children’s rights and wellbeing must remain at the centre of global attention,” Mr. Grandi said.

The decision to appoint Mr. Grandi was taken by the Save the Children Assembly, the highest governing body of Save the Children International, after a robust selection process that started last year, in which a range of candidates from across the globe were considered. After the Board had selected its candidate, Save the Children Members were consulted and approved the nomination. 

In response to the appointment of Mr. Grandi, Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said: 

“Filippo joins us with an unparalleled depth in his understanding of the challenges that children and families are facing globally at this time. His longstanding commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and advancing international cooperation aligns closely with our mission to deliver lasting impact for children in the world’s most challenging contexts. We look forward to working together to strengthen global responses and drive meaningful change for communities in need.”

Ms Ashing also paid tribute to the strong leadership and commitment of Ms. Ahrendts, former Senior Vice President of retail at Apple Inc. and CEO at Burberry. She said Ms Ahrendts helped to strengthen governance and strategic direction of the organisation at time of massive challenges, both globally and in the sector. 

She said: “Angela has brought strong leadership and global visibility to Save the Children during her six-year tenure, helping to strengthen governance and strategic direction at a time of massive challenges, both globally and in the sector. She leveraged her professional expertise and network to support fundraising growth, partnerships, and the organisation’s ability to respond to major humanitarian crises affecting children worldwide. Under her stewardship, Save the Children further enhanced its focus on impact, accountability, and innovation in delivering programs for vulnerable children. We cannot thank her enough for her passion and commitment.”

Save the Children is committed to responding to and anticipating the threats from conflict and crisis while protecting the rights of children most impacted by inequality and discrimination now and for the future. We believe every child deserves a future and, since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than one billion children, giving them a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. 

 Save the Children is the world’s largest independent organisation for children and directly reached nearly 38 million children in about 110 countries around the world in 2025. The organisation responded to 113 humanitarian emergencies across 63 countries and contributed to 54 policy and budget changes for children’s rights.