Magdalena Skrzypek appointed Director of Communications and Impact as Peter Whitehead retires

Magdalena Skrzypek has been appointed Director of Communications and Impact at Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF). She takes over from Peter Whitehead, who has retired after 21 years as Director of Communications, effective September 1. The expanded title reflects the scope of the role and how closely we see our own story tied to the change our clients create.

"It is hard to overstate what Peter has meant to MDIF, shaping our voice and public identity over two decades. On behalf of MDIF's staff and board, we are grateful for everything he built and for the care and commitment he brought to it" said CEO Harlan Mandel. "There is no one better placed to take on Peter's work than Magdalena, who knows this organization and our clients inside out and can lead it into its next chapter."

Magdalena (Magda) steps up from her position as Impact and Communications Manager and brings a deep knowledge of MDIF, non-profit communications and impact measurement. Before joining MDIF in 2017, she worked in communications and editorial roles across the agency, media, non-profit and intergovernmental sectors. She studied at Aarhus University and the University of Amsterdam, holding a joint master's degree in Journalism, Media and Globalization, with a specialism in Media and Politics. Originally from Poland, she is based in Berlin, Germany.

Peter joined the organization in 2005 and built our communications from the ground up. Among numerous milestones, he led our rebrand from MDLF to MDIF, oversaw countless reports, announcements and website redesigns, and steered our communications through some genuinely difficult moments, including Russia's designation of MDIF as an undesirable organization.

MDIF thanks Peter for two decades of service and wishes him all the best in his retirement.