Americares Turns to Christine Squires to Lead Organization

Connecticut-based Americares has announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Christine Squires will be the relief and development organization’s next president and chief executive officer.

Squires will succeed Michael J. Nyenhuis, who is leaving in March to become president and CEO of UNICEF USA. Squires’ first day as president and CEO will be March 14.

Americares Chairman of the Board Jerry Leamon said in a news release that the board unanimously elected Squires because she has the experience and skills to successfully lead the organization. The president and CEO has oversight of all Americares operations worldwide, including a staff of more than 500 in the United States, Colombia, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Liberia, Malawi, the Philippines and Tanzania.

“The board has had the privilege of working with Christine for nearly four years and she was the obvious choice. She has the leadership experience and vision to move Americares forward,” Leamon said. “Michael has done an excellent job growing the organization and expanding its health programs. He is leaving Americares even stronger and better prepared to respond to emerging global health threats and disasters and we want to build on that momentum.”

Squires, of Greenwich, has spent over 20 years championing humanitarian causes and has held numerous senior leadership roles. Prior to joining Americares in 2016, she served as chief operating officer for Physicians for Human Rights, where she oversaw global fundraising, strategic planning, human resources, information technology and an $8.5 million budget. Squires also served as managing director of development and outreach for Human Rights Watch and spent 10 years as vice president of marketing at UNICEF USA.

As Americares chief development officer, Squires expanded fundraising efforts and doubled the organization’s annual operating budget to more than $60 million. She previously led the organization as acting president and CEO while Nyenhuis was on a leave of absence for two months last year.  

“I am honored and humbled to be Americares next leader,” said Squires. “It is a privilege to work for an organization that is saving lives and improving health every day.”

Nyenhuis’ last day at Americares will be March 13. At UNICEF USA, Nyenhuis will replace Caryl Stern, who recently left to become executive director of The Walton Family Foundation. A Stamford resident, Nyenhuis also led the organization as it responded to several high-profile emergencies, including the West Africa Ebola outbreak; the 2015 Nepal earthquake; Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017; and most recently, the Venezuela crisis and Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase access to medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand clinical services; and prevent disease and promote good health. Since its founding 40 years ago, the organization has provided more than $18 billion in aid to more than 150 countries, including the United States.