For Media Producers: Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps
As Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna leads a global team of over 5,400 humanitarians who provide immediate relief to save lives and livelihoods and work to create transformational change reaching 50 million people in more than 40 countries. Previously, she served as Chief Operating Officer of CARE, where she oversaw the organization’s programming and global operations, and as Chief Operating Officer of Habitat for Humanity International. Tjada’s career has spanned the private sector, government and the social services sector.
Tjada can provide expertise and commentary on the biggest international issues making headlines - from inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to climate change as the biggest threat multiplier to conflict and poverty to refugee crises and conflicts spanning Mercy Corps’ 40+ countries of operation in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Tjada is also a recognized authority on food security and hunger. She is currently the only African American woman at the helm of an international aid organization. She can speak about issues of colonialism and white saviorism in the humanitarian aid and development sector, and of gender, racial and ethnic diversity in C-Suite leadership. She can join interviews virtually or in-studio in Washington, DC. To book Tjada as an interview guest, please contact Lynn Hector at lhector@mercycorps.org.
Click here for Tjada’s full bio, and connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Recent appearances
Tjada appeared on CBS to discuss the concerning ripple effects of the conflict in Ukraine on global humanitarian efforts and food insecurity. To see more of her recent appearances, please click here.
“The Ukraine war continues to illuminate the interconnectedness of our world and shows us that upheaval in any region can accelerate change for everyone, for better or worse. This must be a clarion call for the U.S. and global community to step up — not only for the people of Ukraine in their most harrowing hour, but also the tens of millions of people who will struggle to survive the global fallout. ”
- Tjada in The Hill
Tjada in the news
Recent statements
“Never before have we faced a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude. For millions of people, this pandemic has exacerbated hunger, poverty, conflict and gender inequality — all of which have the potential to be equally or even more deadly than the virus itself.”
- Tjada at the National Press Club, March 25, 2021