{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-06/fhi-360-drops-ashley-tan-ceo","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-06/fhi-360-drops-ashley-tan-ceo.md","title":"FHI 360 Drops Ashley Tan as CEO, Names Interim Leader","headline":"FHI 360 Board Drops Ashley Tan as CEO After New Information on Prior Work","description":"FHI 360's board dropped Ashley Tan as incoming CEO after learning new information about his prior work, appointing Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta as interim CEO.","section":"Leadership","published_at":"2026-11-06T10:04:11+00:00","modified_at":"2026-11-06T10:04:11+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["FHI 360's board decided not to proceed with Ashley Tan's onboarding as CEO after learning new information about his prior work and management experience.","Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta, who spent more than a decade as FHI 360's chief operating officer, was appointed interim CEO with immediate effect.","FHI 360's board search committee plans to resume its search for a permanent CEO."],"companies":[{"name":"FHI 360","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0008uxo/fhi-360","website":"http://www.fhi360.org"}],"source":{"publisher":"Channel NewsAsia","title":"Singaporean Ashley Tan dropped from CEO role by US-based non-profit FHI 360","url":"https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singaporean-ceo-fhi-360-development-organisation-6510761"},"other_sources":[{"publisher":"FinancialContent Business Page","url":"https://www.financialcontent.com/article/gnwcq-2026-10-26-ywca-usa-appoints-ruth-t-jones-nichols-phd-as-interim-ceo"},{"publisher":"finews.ch","url":"https://www.finews.ch/news/finanzplatz/74356-women-for-the-boaed-vorstand-mitgliedsversammlung"}],"tags":["Leadership","FHI 360"],"body_markdown":"FHI 360's board decided not to proceed with Ashley Tan's onboarding as chief executive after learning new information about his prior work and management experience, the non-profit said on November 6. The organisation appointed Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta as interim CEO with immediate effect, [Channel NewsAsia](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singaporean-ceo-fhi-360-development-organisation-6510761) reported.\n\n## FHI 360's Board Reverses Tan's Appointment\n\nTan, 39, had been selected by the board as CEO following a comprehensive search conducted by a leading executive search firm, according to FHI 360. He would have been the organisation's first Asian CEO in its 55-year history if appointed.\n\n\"During the onboarding process, the board learned new information about Ashley's prior work and management experience, and in accordance with established governance procedures, we determined that it was in the organisation's best interests to appoint (Ms Kennedy-Iraheta) as interim CEO, effective immediately,\" the organisation said. FHI 360 did not elaborate on the nature of the new information.\n\nFHI 360's website had listed Tan as CEO on November 4. Checks by Channel NewsAsia on November 6 showed his name had been taken down, with Kennedy-Iraheta listed as interim CEO. Tan was formerly the global head of social impact and sustainability at Amazon Web Services, according to his biography for several events he has spoken at, and was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship in 2018 to pursue a master's degree in public administration at Harvard University.\n\n## Kennedy-Iraheta's Return to the Top Job\n\nKennedy-Iraheta spent more than a decade as FHI 360's chief operating officer and previously served as interim CEO, FHI 360 said, playing a key role in the organisation's growth and progress. The organisation said she brings \"deep institutional knowledge, extensive leadership experience, and longstanding government relationships\" that would help during the transition.\n\n\"We have full confidence in (Ms Kennedy-Iraheta) and our experienced leadership team to guide the organisation through this transition,\" FHI 360 said. The board's search committee plans to resume its search for a CEO, seeking candidates who uphold FHI 360's values and can lead the organisation into the future.\n\n## FHI 360's Scale Across 70 Countries\n\n[FHI 360](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0008uxo/fhi-360) is a Durham, North Carolina-based nonprofit international development organisation founded in 1971, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The records list a headcount range of 1,001 to 5,000 and a revenue estimate of $500 million to $1 billion. The organisation runs programmes in public health, education, employment and humanitarian assistance across more than 70 countries with nearly 3,000 staff, Channel NewsAsia reported.\n\n## Interim CEO Appointments Elsewhere\n\nYWCA USA's board appointed Ruth T. Jones Nichols as interim CEO effective October 26, 2026, while a national search for a permanent CEO begins, the [FinancialContent Business Page](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/gnwcq-2026-10-26-ywca-usa-appoints-ruth-t-jones-nichols-phd-as-interim-ceo) reported. Women for the Board elected a new board at its 4th annual meeting, with Ramona Urwyler as president and Daniela Spahr and Aita Gianelli as vice presidents, [finews.ch](https://www.finews.ch/news/finanzplatz/74356-women-for-the-boaed-vorstand-mitgliedsversammlung) reported on November 5, 2026.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}