Marco brings over two decades of leadership experience in the international NGO sector, particularly with ActionAid. As Secretary General, Marco led ActionAid Italy through a period of transformation and growth. He is recognized for his strategic leadership and innovative approaches.

Diana Monissen, chair of Hivos’ Supervisory Board, reflects on Marco’s appointment: “Like many other organizations in our sector, Hivos is facing challenging times. Human rights are under pressure and resources for our work are becoming increasingly scarce. With Marco on board, Hivos has attracted a seasoned leader with experience in fostering collaborations and designing impactful programs. But what is even more important, he is deeply committed to human rights and fighting inequality, and has made it his mission to support activists and their organizations in doing their important work.”

Marco De Ponte succeeds Anne Jellema, who left Hivos at the end of 2024. From now until Marco joins Hivos in April, Michel Farkas, Hivos’ COO, will serve as interim CEO. Allert van den Ham has temporarily joined the organization’s Executive Board as interim COO.