One Heart Worldwide Announces Appointment of Dr. Sibylle Kristensen and Mr. Surya Bhatta as Co-Chief Executive Officers

KATHMANDU, Nepal [August 22, 2025] – The Board of Directors of One Heart Worldwide (OHW) is proud to announce the unanimous appointment of Dr. Sibylle Kristensen and Mr. Surya Bhatta as Co-Chief Executive Officers, effective immediately. 

Dr. Kristensen and Mr. Bhatta have been with OHW since the organization first began work in Nepal in 2010, each bringing over 15 years of experience, leadership, and deep commitment to maternal and newborn health. Their appointment marks a new chapter for OHW as it embraces a Co-CEO leadership model, first introduced when they stepped into their interim roles in 2024. 

The Co-CEO model is a deliberate commitment to shared leadership that pairs a Nepali public health leader with a female global health expert. This approach ensures that decision-making is inclusive, grounded in lived experience, and responsive to the realities of the communities OHW serves. 

Dr. Sibylle Kristensen, formerly the Chief Operating Officer of OHW, has been a driving force in advancing maternal and newborn health globally and in Nepal. With extensive technical expertise, decades of experience in global health, and a lifelong commitment to maternal health, she has shaped OHW’s strategy and global partnerships. Dr. Kristensen earned her Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) in Maternal and Child Health (Perinatal Epidemiology) in 2006, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology (Infectious Diseases Epidemiology) in 1998, and a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in International Health in 1994, all from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Anthropology, and Social Sciences from Troy State University (1992).

Mr. Surya Bhatta, formerly OHW’s Executive Director, brings a wealth of local knowledge and leadership rooted in his own experience growing up in rural Nepal, where he first witnessed the challenges of inadequate maternal health care. His leadership has been instrumental in building trusted partnerships with every level of the Government of Nepal, institutional funders, and key MNH players both locally and globally, as well as with local health systems. He holds a Master's in Health Care Delivery Science from Dartmouth College (2018) and completed the Global Health Delivery Intensive at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2021). 

Together, Dr. Kristensen and Mr. Bhatta have guided OHW through an era of growth and impact. Under their leadership, OHW has expanded its reach into new provinces, upgraded over 800 health facilities, trained more than 20,000 healthcare workers, and partnered with 100% of local governments where programs are implemented. Their shared leadership has helped reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in some of Nepal’s most underserved regions. 

“This leadership model represents a significant milestone for One Heart Worldwide,” said Dr. Kirsten Meisinger, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Dr. Kristensen and Mr. Bhatta bring complementary expertise and a shared vision for equitable, sustainable healthcare. We are confident they will continue to strengthen OHW’s mission and impact across Nepal.”

One Heart Worldwide looks forward to this new chapter under the guidance of Dr. Kristensen and Mr. Bhatta as Co-CEOs, reaffirming the organization’s mission: to ensure that every mother and newborn receives quality care before, during, and after childbirth. 

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About One Heart Worldwide

One Heart Worldwide (OHW) is a global health organization dedicated to improving maternal and newborn health in remote and underserved regions. Through its "Network of Safety" model, OHW strengthens local health systems, improves access to skilled care, and partners with governments and communities to ensure sustainable impact. Since beginning work in Nepal in 2010, OHW has renovated more than 800 birthing centers, trained over 20,000 healthcare providers, and supported safe deliveries for more than 400,000 mothers.

Media Contact
Katie Dyas
Communications Manager
One Heart Worldwide
katie@oneheartworldwide.org