Hong Kong, February 25^th 2009 — The Board of Directors of ORBIS International is pleased to announce the appointment of Edward (Ned) Cloonan as President of the New York-based nonprofit organization.

“We are very fortunate to have Ned join ORBIS as President at this important time in the organization’s history. ORBIS has reached a critical juncture and we are refining our programmatic scope—how we deliver our work and maximize operational efficiency. His 30 years of management and international experience is exactly what is needed to help position ORBIS to grow. We are confident that ORBIS has a bright future with Ned Cloonan as President,” said A. L. Ueltschi, chairman of ORBIS International.

Prior to becoming President of ORBIS, Cloonan held the position of Vice President of Corporate and International Affairs for American International Group, Inc. (AIG). He was responsible for developing and executing business development strategies, as well as strategic corporate giving. He helped build AIG’s global businesses, including playing a leading role in successful market access strategies, in China, India and Vietnam—all of which are priority countries where ORBIS conducts its work. Cloonan is affiliated with a number of associations, including the Council of Foreign Relations, the Council of the Americas, the Americas Society, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council.  

“For more than two decades, ORBIS has made great strides in the field of blindness prevention,” said the new ORBIS president. “I welcome the opportunity to play a role in guiding future growth, particularly in strengthening its network of strategic relationships—an area I consider to be one of ORBIS’ most important assets. It is a real honor to join the organization.”

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