Compassion International Announces Executive Leadership Changes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – March 5, 2019 – Compassion International announced today several exciting changes in its executive leadership team, as the global child development ministry positions itself to serve even more children in poverty around the world.

After 35 years of service to Compassion International, Mark Yeadon, the organization’s current Senior Vice President of Global Program, announced he will be retiring on July 1st of this year. Yeadon joined Compassion in 1984, working in Quito, Ecuador before moving to Colorado Springs in 1993. At that time, just 203,000 children were enrolled in Compassion’s program in 2,050 child development centers. Today, the ministry serves more than 2 million babies, children and young adults through partnerships with over 7,500 churches.

“I am extremely grateful for the many contributions Mark has made to the ministry,” said Compassion President and CEO, Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, “and for the expertise, support and friendship he’s shared so freely with me personally.”

Beginning July 1, Sidney Muisyo will fill Yeadon’s role as Senior Vice President of Global Program. Muisyo is a native of Kenya, who has served in many positions for the organization since first joining in 2002, most recently as the Vice President of the Africa region.

“Sidney has a wealth of international experience, a deep expertise in global development, an established understanding of Compassion’s program, a proven history of Christ-centered leadership and an unquestionable passion for providing hope and opportunity for children living in poverty,” said Mellado. The organization will begin a search to fill Muisyo’s previous role.

Ken Calwell will be expanding his executive role at Compassion International. Calwell joined Compassion in 2017 as the ministry’s Senior Vice President of Innovation. He will now serve as the single point of leadership to architect the links between innovation, sales and marketing. Calwell’s new title, beginning March 31st, will be Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Before coming to Compassion, Ken served as an executive for Domino’s Pizza, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut and Papa Murphy’s International.

“Ken is a collaborative and creative leader,” said Mellado in statement to staff, “I have great confidence in Ken to help us increase our marketing capabilities, optimize stakeholder engagement, improve efficiency, measure the impact of our global efforts, and build critical skills and competencies that will position us for the growth we believe God wants to bring our way in the future.”

In an effort to provide more opportunities for supporters and like-minded global organizations to engage with the ministry, Mark Hanlon will be transitioning from his post as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Engagement, to take on a new role as Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Relationships.

Hanlon has served Compassion for more than four decades through leadership roles that have spanned information technology, project management, customer service and marketing. In this new position, which will also begin March 31st, he will oversee the growth and expansion of global partnerships with key individuals and institutions.

“Mark’s strong relationship development gifts will be an incredible asset in this new role, which will call on him to not only build our existing base of supporters, but also develop new relationships in the U.S. and globally,” said Mellado.

“These changes are being made to take full advantage of the gifts and experience represented on our executive team, strengthen our marketing capabilities, and also expand new global funding opportunities,” Mellado concluded.