Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is an Ethiopian public health official and diplomat who has led the World Health Organization as Director-General since 2017. His earlier public roles include serving as Ethiopia's health and foreign ministers and chairing the Global Fund Board.

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About Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Ethiopia · Public health official, Diplomat, Malariologist

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Known for: Global health governance; Public health administration; International diplomacy
Country: Ethiopia

Public health official
Diplomat
Malariologist

At a glance

He has served as Director-General of the World Health Organization since July 2017 and began a second five-year term in August 2022.
He served as Ethiopia's Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016.
His professional background includes work as a field-level malariologist, leadership of a regional health service and doctoral training in community health.
WHO identifies him as the first person from its African Region to lead the organization and the first Director-General chosen by the World Health Assembly from multiple candidates.

Education and public health background

Born in Asmara on 3 March 1965, Tedros is an Ethiopian citizen. He earned a biology degree from Asmara University in 1986, an MSc in Immunology of Infectious Diseases in 1992 and a PhD in Community Health from the University of Nottingham in 2000. He subsequently worked as a field-level malariologist and led a regional health service before moving into Ethiopia's federal government.

Government and diplomatic service

Tedros served as Ethiopia's Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016. While foreign minister, he chaired the Main Committee associated with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda during the 2015 Third International Conference on Financing for Development process.

International health governance

Alongside his Ethiopian government career, Tedros held roles in international health governance. He was elected Chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the 2009–2011 term, adding multilateral governance experience to his public health and diplomatic work.

Leadership of the World Health Organization

WHO Member States elected Tedros Director-General on 23 May 2017, and he took office on 1 July that year. The World Health Assembly re-elected him in 2022, with his second five-year term beginning on 16 August. As of 22 August 2026, WHO continued to list him as Director-General and stated that the next election for the position was expected in 2027.

Timeline

1965-03-03 Born in Asmara.
2000 Completed a PhD in Community Health at the University of Nottingham.
2009-07-06 Began an elected term as Chair of the Global Fund Board.
2017-05-23 Elected Director-General of the World Health Organization by WHO Member States.
2017-07-01 Took office as WHO Director-General.
2022-08-16 Began a second term as WHO Director-General following re-election by the World Health Assembly.

Additional verified details

Current context

As of 22 August 2026, WHO lists Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as its Director-General, serving a second five-year term that began on 16 August 2022. WHO governance information states that the next Director-General election is expected in 2027.

Biographical facts

He was born on 3 March 1965 in Asmara and is an Ethiopian citizen.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Asmara University in 1986, an MSc in Immunology of Infectious Diseases in 1992 and a PhD in Community Health from the University of Nottingham in 2000.
After his studies, he returned to Ethiopia, worked as a field-level malariologist and later led a regional health service before entering federal government.
As Ethiopia's foreign minister, he chaired the Main Committee associated with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda during the 2015 financing-for-development process.
WHO identifies him as the first person from the WHO African Region to lead the organization and the first Director-General selected by the World Health Assembly from among multiple candidates.

Connections

Affiliations

Affiliations associated with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

World Health Organization Director-General 2017-07-01–present
Government of Ethiopia Minister of Health 2005–2012
Government of Ethiopia Minister of Foreign Affairs 2012–2016
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Chair of the Board 2009-07-06–2011
Government of Ethiopia 2005–2012