The Executive Board is the legal representative of SOS Children’s Villages International and is responsible for management of SOS Children’s Villages International. It implements decisions made by the General Assembly and the International Board and leads the General Secretariat, which operates SOS Children’s Villages International as a legal entity and provides support to member organizations in their pursuit of their common purpose. The Executive Board currently consists of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operating Officer, and is led by the CEO.
Jessica Claire Harmer – Chief Executive Officer
Jessica Harmer brings over 15 years of experience in global strategy and humanitarian leadership spanning the Americas, Asia and Europe. Before joining SOS Children’s Villages, she served at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as Senior Strategic Advisor, guiding implementations of global governance and operational alignment across headquarters, six regional bureaus and 80+ country offices.
A mission-driven leader, Jessica has deep expertise in strategic planning, organizational transformation, impact measurement and large-scale operational alignment. With dual Master’s degrees in International Relations and Business Administration, Jessica brings a rare blend of private-sector discipline, grounding her humanitarian leadership in both strategic and operational excellence.
Jessica is recognized for her ability to translate complexity into clarity, align diverse stakeholders and drive measurable results. With a global perspective and a strong commitment to humanitarian values, she combines analytical rigor with emotional intelligence to navigate organizational complexity and drive alignment.
Deepmala Mahla - Chief Operating Officer
Deepmala Mahla brings over 25 years of humanitarian and development leadership experience across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Before joining SOS Children’s Villages, she served as Chief Humanitarian Officer and Global Humanitarian Director at CARE, where she also held the roles of Vice President of Humanitarian Affairs and Regional Director for Asia.
Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership positions with Mercy Corps, Marie Stopes International, Oxfam GB, UNICEF and other global organizations, directing complex operations and guiding teams in crisis settings such as Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen.
Known for her empathetic leadership, ability to navigate complex global federated structures and commitment to principled aid, Deepmala brings deep expertise in organizational transformation, large-scale operations and crisis response, organizational strategy, resource mobilization, media communications and international partnerships.