2018
I am profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, Kofi Annan. He was a true humanitarian with whom I was honored to work closely as part of The Elders. His stewardship of the United Nations, as Secretary-General for two consecutive terms, united world leaders in innovative ways: including as a leading proponent of the first-of-its-kind funding mechanism, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; and through a coordinated, global approach to reducing extreme poverty with the launch of the Millennium Development Goals, which achieved unprecedented progress against some of the world’s most crippling epidemics, including malaria. His commitment to peace and the prosperity of communities everywhere has served as an inspiration. His leadership and grace will be greatly missed and I will miss him.