Water For People Selects Breslin as New CEO
Water For People, a nonprofit international development organization based in Denver, Colo., has named Ned Breslin its chief executive officer effective immediately.
Founded in 1991, the organization supports safe drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries in response to the 884 million people worldwide who lack access to safe drinking water and the 2.5 billion who lack adequate sanitation.
Breslin has been serving in the role of acting chief executive officer for the past eight months. He joined Water For People in January 2006 as the director of International Programs, where he proved to have a unique ability to blend programmatic, mission, financial, fundraising, and executive experience into high quality outcomes.
“It is with great honor that I accept the position of CEO and I look forward to carrying out the current strategic plan that will guide us to the end of 2011,” Breslin stated. “Water For People has a striking mission and vision rooted in innovation and partnership which will help lead the way for the water and sanitation sector to create sustainable change in developing countries.”
As director of International Programs, Breslin oversaw the organization’s expansion into the Dominican Republic, Peru, Rwanda, and Uganda, as well as led the existing programs in Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, and Malawi. During his tenure, international programs grew from a $3.3 million budget to a $6.5 million budget, supporting the provision of safe and sustainable drinking water resources to 91,722 people and sanitation facilities to 92,983 people in 2008.
“Ned has proven himself to be a motivational and charismatic leader over the past months,” said Fred Elwell, president of the Water For People board of directors. “We are proud of the fact that he comes from the staff within the organization and proves out both the high quality of our staff and the commitment to run our organization with the mission and beneficiaries at the forefront of our efforts.”
Breslin was first introduced to water and sanitation development as part of a Lutheran World Relief initiative in northern Kenya in the 1980s, and subsequently worked in the water supply, sanitation, and hygiene sector in southern Africa for 16 years for a range of local and international nongovernmental organizations, including the Mvula Trust in South Africa and WaterAid in Mozambique. He has a master's degree from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and a bachelor's degree in political studies from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.