ODI executive director to step down in May

The executive director of the Overseas Development Institute, a think tank on international development and humanitarian issues, is to step down from his role in May for “personal and professional reasons”.

Alex Thier, who has been in the role since September 2016, announced this week that he was moving back to the United States with his family. He will be on sabbatical until his departure date. Simon Gill, head of the ODI Budget Strengthening Initiative, and Sara Pantuliano, managing director at the institute, will serve as acting executive directors.

James Cameron, chairman of the ODI board, said that under Thier’s leadership the ODI had “created a compelling new five-year strategy and new mission statement for the organisation, brought leaders together all over the world, and delivered important and influential work”.