Joyce Banda and Phyllis Costanza Join Micronutrient Initiative Board of Directors

OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - October 20, 2015) - The Micronutrient Initiative (MI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joyce Banda, former President of the Republic of Malawi, and Phyllis Costanza, CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation, to its Board of Directors.

"It's an honour to welcome such accomplished leaders to the MI Board of Directors," said Strive Masiyiwa, Chair. "With their support, MI will continue to broaden its impact on a global scale to ensure the most vulnerable people in the world can, through good nutrition, reach their full potential."

Both new appointees bring a wealth of experience in international development, diplomacy, policy development and business to the Board.

Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda was the President of the Republic of Malawi from 2012 to 2014. She was Malawi's first female president and Africa's second. Voted as Africa's most powerful woman by Forbes Magazine for two years running, Dr. Banda is a champion for the rights of women, children, the disabled, and other marginalized groups. Phyllis Costanza is the CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation, where she develops and implements strategies to ensure impactful grant making. Prior to this, she was Director of Leverage at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. Ms. Costanza also worked for 10 years as a management consultant and for three years in the office of New York State Governor Mario Cuomo, advising on policy and politics.

"I am joining the MI Board for three reasons: first, there is great need in the world for dynamic organizations like MI to help scale up nutrition; second, because I am impressed by the results MI has achieved on the ground for the world's most vulnerable women and children; and third because I am looking forward to joining an extraordinary group of committed and influential Board Members from all over the world to put an end to hidden hunger," said Banda.

"MI is widely recognized as a global leader in nutrition, and has an impressive track record in improving the health of hundreds of millions of people each year," said Costanza. "I firmly believe that MI's unique drive to provide innovative and high impact solutions in nutrition is key to making sure that the world's most vulnerable people -- especially women and children -- can grow, learn and thrive, creating stronger communities and a brighter future for all. I'm proud to be joining its Board of Directors and hope my contribution will help MI reach even more people around the world so they can lead healthy, productive lives."

The Board of Directors' role is to provide leadership to MI as it expands its current programming in the areas of child survival, child health, growth and development and women's and newborn survival.

To learn more about MI's work to end hidden hunger, visit www.micronutrient.org