20, AVENUE APPIA – CH-1211 GENEVA 27 – SWITZERLAND – TEL CENTRAL +41 22 791 2111 – FAX CENTRAL +41 22 791 3111 – WWW.WHO.INT
Ref.: C.L.14.2024
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) presents his compliments
to Member States and has the honour to announce the appointment of Dr Michael Ryan as
Deputy Director-General of WHO as of 1 April 2024.
Dr Ryan is from the Republic of Ireland and is the Executive Director of WHO Health
Emergencies, Preparedness and Response. He leads and coordinates WHO’s preparedness and
response to health emergencies (e.g., disease outbreaks, humanitarian crises, natural/man-made
disasters, and other public health emergencies).
Dr Ryan completed his medical training in the Republic of Ireland in 1988 and his
post-graduate training in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, and the European Union.
He joined WHO in 1996 and has served on the frontlines of health emergency
preparedness and response in multiple countries and regions, as well as with the Emerging
Diseases Programme, the Expanded Programme on Immunization, and most recently with the
Global Polio Eradication Initiative from 2013–2017, based in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean
Region. He returned to WHO headquarters in 2017 as Deputy Executive Director.
Dr Ryan will assume the role of Deputy Director-General in addition to that of Executive
Director and will represent the Director-General internally and externally on all matters
delegated to him. His experience in managing complex health programmes at scientific,
technical, operational, strategy, policy and diplomatic levels will be invaluable.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization avails himself of this opportunity
to renew to Member States the assurances of his highest consideration.
GENEVA, 29 March 2024