Leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm WittKieffer and the International Hospital Federation (IHF) today announced a partnership to advance the organization’s Young Executive Leaders (YEL) programme, helping to build global healthcare leadership competencies among the next generation of leaders in the Federation’s international membership.

Established in 1929, the International Hospital Federation is a global, not-for-profit, non-governmental membership organization and the voice of hospitals and health systems around the world. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it represents more than 100 different organizations worldwide and serves over 20,000 hospitals and healthcare organizations.

The IHF launched its Young Executive Leaders programme in 2019 as a way to build capability and relationships in and among young hospital executives across the globe and to create a voice for the next generation of international healthcare leaders. Programme participants, in addition to creating sustainable relationships with peers worldwide, discuss current trends and challenges in healthcare through the programme’s learning sessions and masterclasses. In 2021, of the many young executives who have applied to the programme, an exclusive group of 34 out of 19 countries have been selected to participate in networking and leadership development activities taking place from April through November. The capstone experience for the program cohort is attending the IHF World Hospital Congress, to be held this year from November 8–11 in Barcelona.
WittKieffer has supported the healthcare industry for more than 50 years, serving as strategic leadership experts to healthcare institutions. Through the partnership, IHF and

WittKieffer are enhancing the programme’s content repository, structure, and reach.

“We are very proud to participate in the expansion and continued success of the Young Executive Leaders programme,” said Andrew Chastain, president and CEO of WittKieffer. “In just a few short years, the IHF has created the premier global healthcare leadership development programme whose goals align with those of our firm – to support exceptional young leaders to become the CEOs and executives of tomorrow’s global healthcare industry. Partnering with IHF on such an important programme is an honour and matches our strategic vision of strengthening and diversifying the world’s healthcare leadership.”

“We are excited about our partnership with WittKieffer as we further build and grow the Young Executive Leaders programme. Together we can bolster the next generation of hospital leadership,” stated Ronald Lavater, IHF CEO. “The ambitious executives we have in each year’s cohort will benefit directly from the wisdom, expertise and professionalism that WittKieffer has developed through many years in the global healthcare executive search industry.”