Direct Relief Appoints Harry McMahon Chair of Board of Directors

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Direct Relief, one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations in the country, today announced that Harry McMahon has been appointed Chair of its Board of Directors. McMahon succeeds Mark Linehan, who has completed his term as Chair and concludes more than a decade of service on the Direct Relief's Board.

"Direct Relief has benefited immeasurably from Mark Linehan's steady hand and vision, particularly during a pivotal era of physical and operational expansion," said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. "As we look to the future, Harry McMahon's breadth of experience, strategic insight and financial acumen will be invaluable assets. We are fortunate to have such high-caliber leadership to help guide Direct Relief's work."

McMahon brings extensive global leadership to the role. He previously served as Executive Vice Chairman of Bank of America and Vice Chairman and Head of Global Corporate Finance at Merrill Lynch, where he also ran Investment Banking for the firm's Western Region for 25 years. He currently serves on the Board of Parsons Corporation and is a trustee at Claremont McKenna College, where he previously served as Board Chair for eight years. He holds a BA and an Honorary Doctorate from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School.

The leadership transition comes at a time of significant growth and demand for Direct Relief's humanitarian operations. A leader in providing medical humanitarian aid to those in need, Direct Relief is ranked fifth on Forbes' list of America's Top 100 Charities and has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator, for 15 consecutive years.

This trajectory of growth accelerated significantly during Linehan's tenure on the Board. Direct Relief received support totaling $18 billion-comprising more than $17 billion in donated medical products and over $1 billion in cash-during his time with the organization. Linehan also led the development of the organization's 155,000-square-foot headquarters pro bono, completing the project on time and on budget.

"Serving on this Board for the past decade has been the privilege of a lifetime," said Linehan. "From the construction of our headquarters to the expansion of our global reach, I have witnessed this organization rise to meet every challenge. I step down knowing Direct Relief is stronger than ever and in the most capable hands with Harry McMahon at the helm."

McMahon assumes the role effective immediately.

"Direct Relief represents a rare convergence of compassionate mission and operational excellence," said McMahon. "To serve as Chair is a privilege and a profound responsibility, particularly at a time when the world requires agile, efficient humanitarian response more than ever. I look forward to building on Mark's exceptional legacy and working with the Board to ensure our impact scales to meet these global challenges."