National MS Society names Coetzee president and CEO
Former chief advocacy officer has 24 years with organization
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) said it named Tim Coetzee, PhD, president and chief executive officer.
Coetzee had been chief advocacy, services, and science officer for the organization, which provides funding and advocacy programs and services and works toward creating a world without multiple sclerosis (MS).
Coetzee has been in the MS field since 1993, and has worked for the NMSS for 24 years. He pledged to continue the organization’s mission to find a cure for MS, while advocating for equitable and affordable access to healthcare and services to improve the lives of those with the disease.
“Tim brings a deep understanding of MS and commitment to the National MS Society,” Peter Porrino, NMSS chairman, said in a press release. “He is a trusted voice of the global MS community, a highly respected scientist, and we are excited for him to bring his transformative leadership to drive us into our next era to achieve a world free of MS.”
Coetzee joined the NMSS in 2000 as a director of research training programs, where he established a funding initiative to support researchers worldwide working to advance MS research and develop new therapies.
Serving the MS community
Coetzee also funded and served as the president and executive director of Fast Forward, the society’s commercial research venture that aims to support the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for MS for commercial development. So far, it has invested more than $25 million in 54 projects.
In his most recent position, he was responsible for the organization’s public policy efforts, marketing and communication, and a number of programs for patient support, healthcare professional engagement, and science advances.
“Serving the MS community has been a driving force in my life,” said Coetzee. “I am inspired by the passion and commitment of staff, volunteers, supporters and healthcare professionals who move our mission forward. I am excited to build upon the great achievements we’ve made together to realize our vision of a world free of MS.”
During his time with NMSS, Coetzee created the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research, which recognizes early- to mid-career scientists with innovative and outstanding work in MS research, and contributed to the formation of International Progressive MS Alliance, a global research network of MS organizations and scientific leads meant to accelerate the development of effective treatments for progressive forms of MS.
He also fostered global collaboration with MS organizations and experts to establish the Pathways to Cures Roadmap, which defined three research pathways that may ultimately eradicate MS.
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