The international body has unveiled change at the top, introducing a new CEO who comes with a background in championing women’s causes.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the non-profit organization linked to the Rockefeller family dynasty, has appointed Latanya Mapp Frett as its next president and CEO, succeeding Melissa Berman in the role she founded. 

Frett will start in her new post from January next year, RPA said in a statement.

“Latanya’s 20-year career brokering alliances and community-centered solutions to thorny global challenges, coupled with her passion for equity, make her the ideal person to lead RPA’s next chapter,” Valerie Rockefeller, RPA board chairperson, said. “We salute Melissa’s legacy and look forward to supporting Latanya in our ongoing work of accelerating philanthropy in pursuit of a just world.” 

"It has been a privilege to guide RPA on a 20+ year journey filled with meaningful impact and transformative moments. I'm honored to be passing the baton to Latanya, an extraordinary leader with a powerful global vision. Her unwavering dedication to women and girls is an indicator of the commitment she will bring to RPA's mission,” Berman said.

Frett serves as president and CEO of Global Fund for Women, a public foundation that supports courageous activists who are fighting for justice and equality in their communities. Previously, she was executive director of Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, with regional and country offices in Africa and Latin America. Before joining Planned Parenthood Global, Frett worked for eight years as a human rights officer for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and 10 years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Frett is an attorney by training. She began her career at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in Washington, DC. She serves on the boards of Oxfam International, Oxfam America, Management Sciences for Health, and the Luminate Foundation. Frett is an adjunct professor of population and family health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.