UNICEF Executive and Leadership Team

November, 2026

Leadership Overview

UNICEF has 10 executives leading key functions including financial oversight, humanitarian response, field operations, staff wellbeing, technology, and organizational leadership.

Committed to global child welfare, UNICEF advances humanitarian goals by delivering essential health, education, and emergency relief services across more than 190 countries and territories to defend children's rights.

Leadership Roles at UNICEF

  • Chief Financial Officer - Ray Cole
  • Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer - Mohamad Kanawati
  • Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer) - Ibrahim Elsheikh
  • President, The Fund (US) - Charles Lyons
  • President & Founder - Travis Morgan
  • Charter President - Dipu Shakya
  • Co President - Huda Al-saji
  • Executive Manager and Chief of Staff, Global Humanitarian Response - Yasmin Jamshed
  • Global Chief of Staff Wellbeing - Ruan Boshoff
  • Chief Technology Officer, Telecommunication Spectrum Certificates - Daniel Krasner
  • Ray Cole - Chief Financial Officer

    Ray Cole, the Chief Financial Officer at UNICEF, directs all global fiscal planning and resource allocation strategies. Overseeing the financial integrity of humanitarian programs, the Chief Financial Officer ensures transparent management of donor funds across international borders. This leadership role involves rigorous auditing of expenditures to maximize the impact of health care and immunization initiatives. By optimizing budgetary frameworks, Ray Cole directly supports the expansion of safe water and sanitation projects in developing regions. Ultimately, Cole secures the long-term economic stability required to sustain emergency relief efforts worldwide. Through precise financial modeling, the Chief Financial Officer maintains the fiscal health necessary for the organization to fulfill the potential of children in every corner of the globe, ensuring that every dollar contributes to life-saving outcomes.

    Mohamad Kanawati - Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer

    Mohamad Kanawati, the Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer at UNICEF, manages regional fiscal operations and field-level resource distribution. Overseeing the financial execution of local humanitarian projects, the Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer ensures strict adherence to budgetary constraints within specific operational territories. This leadership role involves coordinating with regional teams to verify the efficient delivery of health and sanitation supplies. By monitoring local expenditure patterns, Mohamad Kanawati optimizes the allocation of assets to maximize the reach of life-saving interventions. Ultimately, Kanawati strengthens the financial accountability of field offices, ensuring that resources directly benefit children in need. Through rigorous oversight of regional accounts, the Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer maintains the fiscal discipline necessary to support the broader mission of defending children's rights across diverse international landscapes.

    Ibrahim Elsheikh - Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer)

    Ibrahim Elsheikh, the Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer) at UNICEF, manages the financial infrastructure of field operations to ensure the seamless delivery of humanitarian aid. Overseeing the fiscal management of regional programs, the Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer) ensures that resources reach the most vulnerable communities efficiently. This leadership role involves aligning field-level financial reporting with global organizational standards to maintain transparency. By optimizing the distribution of funds for nutrition and education, Ibrahim Elsheikh directly impacts the success of local initiatives. Ultimately, Elsheikh drives the financial sustainability of field-based projects, ensuring that aid reaches children in remote areas. Through careful management of regional budgets, the Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer) supports the organization's commitment to saving lives and defending rights by providing the necessary financial foundation for all field-level activities.
    Ibrahim Elsheikh

    Charles Lyons - President, The Fund (US)

    Charles Lyons, the President, The Fund (US) at UNICEF, leads the strategic fundraising and advocacy efforts within the United States to support global humanitarian goals. Overseeing the engagement of donors and partners, the President, The Fund (US) ensures a steady flow of resources for international health and education programs. This leadership role involves building coalitions to amplify the impact of advocacy campaigns for children's rights. By driving philanthropic growth, Charles Lyons expands the capacity of the organization to provide emergency relief and essential services worldwide. Ultimately, Lyons secures the financial and political support necessary to sustain long-term humanitarian initiatives. Through the cultivation of strategic partnerships, the President, The Fund (US) maintains the visibility and funding required to fulfill the potential of children, ensuring that the organization remains a powerful advocate for those in need.

    Travis Morgan - President & Founder

    Travis Morgan, the President & Founder at UNICEF, establishes the core vision and strategic direction for the organization's humanitarian mission. Overseeing the foundational principles of child advocacy, the President & Founder ensures that all operations remain aligned with the goal of defending children's rights. This leadership role involves setting the long-term agenda for global health, nutrition, and education initiatives. By championing the cause of vulnerable children, Travis Morgan drives the organization to reach new territories and expand its impact. Ultimately, Morgan secures the commitment of global stakeholders to support life-saving programs. Through the articulation of the organizational mission, the President & Founder maintains the focus on saving lives and fulfilling the potential of children, ensuring that the organization continues to act as a leading advocate for humanitarian progress across the globe.

    Dipu Shakya - Charter President

    Dipu Shakya, the Charter President at UNICEF, provides high-level guidance on the organizational charter and mission-critical advocacy strategies. Overseeing the adherence to core humanitarian values, the Charter President ensures that all initiatives uphold the rights of children in every operational region. This leadership role involves advising on the strategic direction of global programs to ensure consistency with the founding mandate. By fostering a culture of accountability, Dipu Shakya strengthens the organization's reputation as a defender of children's lives. Ultimately, Shakya drives the long-term vision of the organization, ensuring that humanitarian efforts remain effective and impactful. Through the promotion of the organizational charter, the Charter President maintains the integrity of the mission, ensuring that all activities contribute to the goal of providing health, education, and protection to children worldwide.

    Huda Al-saji - Co President

    Huda Al-saji, the Co President at UNICEF, shares the responsibility for directing global humanitarian strategies and organizational growth. Overseeing the implementation of cross-functional initiatives, the Co President ensures that health, education, and emergency relief programs operate in harmony. This leadership role involves collaborating with other executives to refine the approach to defending children's rights in diverse cultural contexts. By facilitating inter-departmental cooperation, Huda Al-saji enhances the efficiency of resource utilization across international borders. Ultimately, Al-saji drives the expansion of humanitarian services, ensuring that the organization reaches more children in need. Through the joint management of strategic priorities, the Co President maintains the momentum of the organization's mission, ensuring that all efforts are directed toward saving lives and fulfilling the potential of children in every corner of the world.

    Yasmin Jamshed - Executive Manager and Chief of Staff, Global Humanitarian Response

    Yasmin Jamshed, the Executive Manager and Chief of Staff, Global Humanitarian Response at UNICEF, coordinates complex emergency relief operations across diverse geographic zones. Managing the strategic alignment of humanitarian interventions, the Executive Manager and Chief of Staff, Global Humanitarian Response ensures rapid deployment of resources during crises. This leadership role involves synchronizing field activities with international policy objectives to defend children's rights effectively. By streamlining operational workflows, Yasmin Jamshed enhances the speed and efficiency of nutrition and education programs in high-need areas. Ultimately, Jamshed drives the execution of large-scale humanitarian missions, ensuring that aid reaches vulnerable populations with precision. Through constant monitoring of global developments, the Executive Manager and Chief of Staff, Global Humanitarian Response maintains operational readiness to address emerging threats to child safety and well-being.

    Ruan Boshoff - Global Chief of Staff Wellbeing

    Ruan Boshoff, the Global Chief of Staff Wellbeing at UNICEF, architects comprehensive programs to support the mental and physical health of the international workforce. Overseeing the implementation of staff support initiatives, the Global Chief of Staff Wellbeing ensures that personnel operating in high-stress environments receive necessary care. This leadership role involves developing policies that promote resilience and professional sustainability across all global offices. By fostering a culture of wellness, Ruan Boshoff enhances the overall effectiveness of teams dedicated to humanitarian relief and child advocacy. Ultimately, Boshoff secures the human capital required to maintain consistent service delivery in challenging regions. Through strategic planning of wellness resources, the Global Chief of Staff Wellbeing sustains the organizational capacity to defend children's rights, ensuring that the workforce remains equipped to handle the complexities of global humanitarian work.

    Daniel Krasner - Chief Technology Officer, Telecommunication Spectrum Certificates

    Daniel Krasner, the Chief Technology Officer, Telecommunication Spectrum Certificates at UNICEF, directs the integration of digital infrastructure to support global humanitarian communication. Overseeing the deployment of telecommunication technologies, the Chief Technology Officer, Telecommunication Spectrum Certificates ensures that field teams maintain connectivity in critical emergency zones. This leadership role involves managing spectrum certificates and digital assets to facilitate the rapid exchange of data during relief operations. By modernizing technical systems, Daniel Krasner enhances the ability of the organization to track health outcomes and coordinate logistics across vast distances. Ultimately, Krasner secures the digital backbone necessary for effective humanitarian response, ensuring that technology serves the mission of protecting children. Through the strategic application of telecommunication tools, the Chief Technology Officer, Telecommunication Spectrum Certificates enables real-time decision-making that saves lives and defends children's rights globally.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding UNICEF Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads UNICEF?
    UNICEF is led by Ray Cole (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Mohamad Kanawati (Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer) and Ibrahim Elsheikh (Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer)).
    Who is part of UNICEF’s executive team?
    The executive team of UNICEF includes leaders such as Ray Cole (Chief Financial Officer), Mohamad Kanawati (Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer), Ibrahim Elsheikh (Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer)) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does UNICEF have?
    UNICEF has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in UNICEF’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of UNICEF includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Field Office Chief Financial Officer, Chief Field Office (Chief Financial Officer), President, The Fund (US), President & Founder.