The CEO of Bill and Melinda Gates' multi-billion-dollar nonprofit is stepping down

Gates Foundation

Susan Desmond-Hellmann is stepping down as Gates Foundation CEO.

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Susan Desmond-Hellmann is stepping down, the nonprofit said Thursday, after concluding "she could not adequately meet the demands of the position while caring for her own health and the needs of her family."
• A longtime insider, Mark Suzman, will take over her role February 1.
• Desmond-Hellmann has been CEO since 2014 and helped the foundation launch its research arm, the Gates Medical Research Institute, and expanded its work to examine poverty and economic mobility in the US.
• She also led the foundation through challenging times, including a lawsuit that provided a rare window into its operations.
• The Gates Foundation had given more than $50 billion in grants as of the end of 2018.
• Click here to read more BI Prime stories

The head of Bill and Melinda Gates' multi-billion-dollar nonprofit is stepping down.

Susan Desmond-Hellmann, an oncologist who became the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's CEO in 2014, concluded "she could not adequately meet the demands of the position while caring for her own health and the needs of her family," the nonprofit announced Thursday.

"This was without doubt the toughest decision of my career," Desmond-Hellmann said in a prepared statement. "But I felt I could no longer be the CEO the foundation needs and deserves at this vital time."

Mark Suzman, the current chief strategy officer and president of global policy and advocacy, will take over Desmond-Hellmann's role on February 1. Suzman has worked for the organization for 12 years.

As of the end of 2018, the Gates Foundation had given more than $50 billion in grants since it founded was in 2000 by Bill and Melinda Gates, who remain co-chairs and trustees of the organization. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett is a trustee and William H. Gates Sr., father of the Microsoft cofounder, is also a co-chair.

Desmond-Hellmann's tenure

Desmond-Hellmann was the foundation's third CEO, following former Microsoft executives Jeff Raikes and Patty Stonesifer. She joined the nonprofit after serving as chancellor of the University of California at San Francisco, the first woman to ever hold the position, and spent 14 years before that at San Francisco-based biotech Genentech working on gene therapies for cancer.

"Sue brought an incredible set of attributes to the foundation: scientific expertise, tested leadership skills, a passion for building a strong internal culture, and, above all, a dedication to the mission of making the world a healthier, more equal place," Melinda Gates said in a prepared statement.

Desmond-Hellmann's leadership, Bill Gates said in the statement, helped the foundation launch its research arm, the Gates Medical Research Institute, and expanded its work to examine poverty and economic mobility in the U.S.

Handout/Getty ImagesBill and Melinda Gates.

Challenging times

A lawsuit filed against the Gates Foundation in 2017 provided a rare window inside the organization with Desmond-Hellman at the helm.

Todd Pierce, a former Salesforce executive who was fired from his job as the foundation's chief digital officer, sued the foundation, alleging he was misled about his role. The lawsuit alleged disfunction in the organization, including a lack of communication in the recruiting process and "disarray of the existing technology at the Gates Foundation."

A judge sided with Pierce, awarding in late 2018 nearly $5 million to compensate Pierce for the stock options and salary he left on the table at Salesforce to take the job at Gates Foundation. The foundation said it disagreed with the decision and planned to appeal, but it does not appear an appeal has been filed.

The new CEO

Suzman, Desmond-Hellmann's successor, is a 12-year veteran of the foundation who oversees its government relations, partnerships, and strategic communications and has helped it expand in Europe, Africa, and Asia. He's originally from South Africa and held various roles at the United Nations prior to joining the Gates Foundation.

"Mark has been a trusted advisor across our programs and partners," Bill Gates said in a prepared statement. "As we conclude our foundation's second decade of work in global health and education, I have never been more optimistic about the opportunity to improve life for the world's poorest. I look forward to partnering with Mark on the work ahead."

NOW WATCH: How Jay-Z and Diddy used their fame to make millions off of 'cheap grapes'