20 Jan LIFENET INTERNATIONAL APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT: SHEP OWEN
Washington, DC- January 19, 2022: LifeNet International announced today that its board of directors has appointed Shep Owen as President, effective immediately. With more than 20 years of strategic leadership experience, Owen will lead the organization as it rapidly scales its proven model to save and improve millions of more lives.
Owen will succeed Dave Evans, building on the growth Evans has led over the last three years. This is the implementation of a succession plan created by LifeNet International’s board over the last year. Evans set a new strategic direction for the organization and oversaw operational growth from 130 health facility partners to over 350. Evans will remain with the organization as Senior Advisor. This role will allow Evans more time to focus on recovering his health, while still contributing to the growth of the organization.
Dave Evans endorsed Shep Owen’s appointment by saying, “I have had the privilege of working with Shep in various capacities over the course of a decade and I have always been so impressed with his strategic and effective leadership and ability to build with strength. He brings great passion, an amazing skill set, and strong operations experience to this president role. He will surely build on a good foundation to take the organization to its next level of achievement. I look forward to supporting Shep and the entire LifeNet team in my new part-time role of Senior Advisor.”
“LifeNet is in the midst of a great expansion and huge impact on millions of lives. Shep brings more than 20 years of proven leadership and scaling experience and has the right skills and abilities to create strong systems and drivers that will ensure big impact from within a strong organization,” said Chairman of the Board Michael Spraggins. “The Board of Directors has great confidence in Shep’s ability to strengthen the organization and take it to the next level of scale and impact. We are thrilled to welcome Shep to this new role and look forward to seeing hope and healing brought to millions more people in Africa.”
Owen’s extensive experience in the field and in strategic management and leadership have uniquely positioned him to effectively lead LifeNet. Prior to joining LifeNet, Owen served as Senior Director of Relief and Humanitarian Affairs for Food for the Hungry. Under his leadership, LifeNet will continue to grow to save and improve the lives of millions of more vulnerable patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
“I am honored by the opportunity to lead such a high-impact and strategic organization in the midst of great expansion. I look forward to continuing to work with LifeNet’s talented and dedicated team to strengthen the organization and drive growth and impact,” said Owen. “Now, more than ever, it is clear that well trained and well equipped healthcare workers are the answer to health crises. I look forward to leading LifeNet to ensure many thousands more healthcare workers are able to answer the call to provide hope and healing in their vulnerable communities.”
About LifeNet International: Founded in 2009, LifeNet International partners with local, faith-based health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa to bridge the deadly gap separating existing knowledge, tools, and resources from the healthcare workers who need them to save lives. LifeNet rapidly and effectively deploys life-saving and life-improving interventions directly to healthcare workers. Through its growing network of 362 facilities, LifeNet transforms healthcare for more than 5 million patient visits every year in Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Media Contact:
Maggie Ehrenfried
mehrenfried@lninternational.org
Mobile: +1.970.343.4813