CWS ANNOUNCES NEW HEAD OF PROGRAMS Indonesian Program Director Selected
NEW YORK, November 1, 2007--Church World Service announces the appointment of Maurice Bloem as Deputy Director, Head of Programs, for the New York-based global humanitarian agency.
On announcing the selection of Bloem, CWS Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough said, "I am very impressed by the depth of his knowledge in so many of the vital areas that impact the work we do around the world. His familiarity with and commitment to the mission of Church World Service makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team."
In his new role at CWS Bloem will provide leadership and oversight to CWS domestic and international programs and the agencyâs five program areas. He also will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the agencyâs local partners across the globe, with governments and United Nations agencies, and with ecumenical colleagues at the 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican communions that make up the membership of CWS.
A seasoned professional with 20 years experience in the field of development and humanitarian assistance, Bloem moves into the deputy director position after eight years as country director and regional director of CWS in Indonesia/Timor-Leste, where he led among others a multi-million dollar response to the tsunami and the earthquakes that devastated the region in 2004 and 2005. CWS-Indonesia is also known for its innovative programs with youth and on HIV and AIDS.
Prior to joining CWS in 1999, Bloem was project coordinator for an HIV/AIDS prevention project run by CARE Bangladesh.
Maurice Bloem was born in the Netherlands in 1965, fifteen years after his Dutch-Indonesian parents emigrated from Indonesia to the Netherlands. He received a Master of Science in cultural anthropology from the University of Leyden in the Netherlands.
Now commemorating 60 years of work in relief, development and refugee assistance, CWS works through partnerships in 80 countries around the world.
Media Contacts
Lesley Crosson (212) 870-2676 lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 24/7, (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net