NEW YORK – November 04, 2026 -- Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet has appointed Agnes Dasewicz as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2027, making her the first leader promoted from within the organization. Dasewicz, currently Chief Program and Investment Officer, succeeds Woochong Um after a succession process the board began earlier this year.
Alliance targets 90 million people and 3 million jobs five years after COP26 launch
The handover comes five years after the Alliance was founded at COP26 in Glasgow. The organization says it is on track to bring new or improved clean energy access to more than 90 million people, create or improve more than 3 million jobs and prevent nearly 300 million tons of carbon emissions.
The board frames the appointment against geopolitical tensions, shrinking development budgets and widening economic divides that risk leaving emerging economies further behind. Board Chair Ravi Venkatesan said the board identified Dasewicz as its planned successor earlier this year.
Former DFC chief operating officer brings development finance background to the top job
Before joining the Alliance in 2025, Dasewicz was Chief Operating Officer and Head of Investments at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). There she helped drive investment growth across Africa, Asia and Latin America. She also held senior roles at USAID and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and co-founded an impact investment fund.
At the Alliance, she has led investment and program strategy, building partnerships with governments, development finance institutions, philanthropies and private companies.
Battery storage pilots in India and Malawi anchor the project pipeline
The Alliance cites pioneering battery storage projects in India and Malawi as efforts to modernize electricity grids and inform similar projects in other markets. It also runs programs in the Brazilian Amazon, across Africa and in Southeast Asia that link clean energy to economic opportunity and feed into national energy policy.
It is a founding partner of Mission 300, the World Bank and African Development Bank-led initiative to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. Across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Alliance runs 130 projects. It was founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund.
Dasewicz said her priority is "proving what works, building local alliances to scale solutions and accelerating the transformation of entire energy systems."
Um leaves a restructured, independent charity with a broader funder base
Under Um, the Alliance became an independent charitable institution with stronger governance and clearer strategic priorities. He also deepened country-led partnerships and broadened its base of funders and partners. Um will lead the Alliance through the transition before taking a new position, which the organization says will be announced shortly.