Melinda French Gates announced her resignation as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Monday, signalling a significant shift in the organization’s leadership and philanthropic focus.
This decision comes three years after her divorce from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, with whom she co-founded the foundation in 2000.
In a statement shared on her social media handle, @melindagates, French Gates disclosed her departure, effective June 7, 2024, and highlighted her intention to redirect her efforts towards her own philanthropic endeavours. This move will see her receive an additional $12.5 billion to allocate towards her initiatives, primarily focused on empowering women and families globally.
The announcement follows a prearranged agreement made in June 2021, wherein it was stipulated that either Bill or Melinda could opt to step down if they found it untenable to continue working together as co-chairs.
Mark Suzman, CEO and board member of the foundation, expressed gratitude for French Gates’ contributions and affirmed the organization’s commitment to its mission under his continued leadership.
Bill Gates echoed his appreciation for Melinda’s pivotal role in shaping the foundation’s strategies over the years and affirmed his dedication to advancing its objectives. He acknowledged her departure while expressing confidence in the foundation’s team and its capacity to sustain progress towards improving global health and gender equality.
Established with the merger of the two Gates foundations in 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been a driving force in addressing health disparities and poverty worldwide. Guided by the principle that every life holds equal value, the foundation remains steadfast in its mission to promote health, education, and opportunity for all, under the guidance of CEO Mark Suzman and the continued involvement of Bill Gates and the board of trustees.
