GENEVA (September 12, 2011) – CARE International, one of the world’s largest humanitarian relief and development organizations, has elected Ralph Martens to chair its international board of directors. Ralph Martens will replace Eva Lystad, who served as CARE International’s chair for the last four years. Mr. Martens has worked as First Vice-President Private Banking for Merill Lynch as well as Chief Executive Officer for a logistics outsourcing service provider. He is also the chair of the board for Ring International Holding. In addition to serving on CARE International’s board, Mr. Martens has also headed the board of CARE Austria since 1997.
"Ralph has been supporting CARE for over 15 years,” says Dr. Robert Glasser, CARE International’s Secretary General. “His extensive professional experience and thorough understanding of CARE’s work position him to play a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s future."
As chair of the CARE International Board of Directors, Mr. Martens will preside over a confederation of 12 national CARE organizations and one CARE affiliate member that support development and humanitarian relief operations in more than 70 countries and employ more than 11,000 staff members, roughly 97 percent of whom are national citizens of the countries in which CARE works. “It is a great honour and privilege to be appointed Chair of the CARE International Board,” says Mr. Martens. “I look forward to working with my colleagues at CARE to further expand CARE’s impact in the fight against poverty and social injustice.”
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked to support more than 82 million people improve basic health and education, fight hunger, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, confront climate change, and recover from disasters.
To learn more, visit www.care-international.org.
Media Contact:
Melanie Brooks
CARE International
Mobile: +41 79 590 3047
E-mail: [email protected]