Valerie Newsom Guarnieri
Assistant Executive Director

Valerie Newsom Guarnieri became Assistant Executive Director in January 2018.
In this role, she brings together and oversees essential elements of WFP global
operations, including emergency preparedness and response, programme and policy,
nutrition and supply chain to ensure essential support to vulnerable, food insecure
people around the world.

Prior to this appointment, Ms Guarnieri served as WFP Regional Director for East
and Central Africa providing supervision, strategic guidance and support for country
operations throughout the region.

Ms Guarnieri began her career with WFP in 2000 as Senior Policy Advisor and
has since served as Deputy Country Director in Zimbabwe, Country Director and
Representative in the Philippines and Director, Programme Division. In the latter
role, she provided global leadership and support for the design and deployment of
innovative, high quality programmes to address urgent hunger and nutrition needs.

Prior to joining WFP, Ms Guarnieri served within the U.S. Government where she
supported humanitarian and development actions which saved lives and helped
create conditions for sustainable peace, with particular focus in Africa.

An American national, Ms Guarnieri was born in Heidelberg, Germany. She holds
a Master of Arts from the School of International Service of American University in
Washington, D.C.