Board Declines Ashley Tan as FHI 360 Chief
FHI 360's board decided not to proceed with onboarding Ashley Tan and named Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta interim chief executive.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
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FHI 360's board of directors declined to proceed with onboarding Ashley Tan, who had been set to be announced as chief executive of the US-based non-profit. The board appointed Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta, a longtime chief operating officer, as interim chief executive effective immediately.
Why it matters
The board said it learned new information about Tan's prior work and management experience during onboarding, which led it to change course. The decision leaves the non-profit, which runs public health, education, employment, and humanitarian programmes, under interim leadership while its search resumes.
FHI 360 operates across more than 70 countries with nearly 3,000 staff and a 55-year history. Tan, 39, would have been the organisation's first Asian chief executive, but the specific details of the new information that prompted the reversal remain unpublished.
The players
FHI 360
FHI 360 is a US-based non-profit with nearly 3,000 staff across more than 70 countries, working in public health, education, employment, and humanitarian assistance.
Ashley Tan
Ashley Tan is a 39-year-old Singaporean executive who was selected as FHI 360's chief executive before the board reversed course.
Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta
Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta is FHI 360's interim chief executive, having previously spent more than a decade as the organisation's chief operating officer.
The details
FHI 360's website listed Tan as chief executive on November 4, 2026, but her name was removed by November 6 after the board decided against proceeding. Tan had been selected following a comprehensive search by an executive search firm, and Kennedy-Iraheta, who spent more than a decade as chief operating officer, now leads the organisation on an interim basis.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: FHI 360's website lists Ashley Tan as chief executive.
November 6, 2026: The board declines Tan's onboarding and names Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta interim chief executive.
Leadership Continuity
The appointment of an internal chief operating officer as interim chief executive reflects FHI 360's 55-year pattern of promoting from within during transitions. The reversal marks a departure from that continuity, since the board had initially pursued an outside candidate through an executive search firm.
For FHI 360's donors, partners, and the communities it serves, the leadership change means continued operations under interim management while a permanent chief executive is sought. Programme delivery across its 70-plus countries is not described as affected in the reporting.
The takeaway
Leadership reversals at large non-profits can hinge on due diligence that surfaces after an appointment is announced. Organisations weighing outside candidates may benefit from verifying prior management records before public announcements.
What happens next
The board's search committee plans to resume its search for a permanent chief executive, though no timeline has been announced.
Further reading
Explore more People stories to see how other leadership changes are shaping organisations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CNA.
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