World Madam Foundation names Dr. Srgjan Kerim chairman

World Madam Foundation Inc. appointed former UN General Assembly President Dr. Srgjan Kerim as chairman, effective immediately, and named founder Anni Huang chairwoman of World Madam Group Co., Limited. The move puts a veteran diplomat in charge of the foundation’s global strategy as the organization expands women’s empowerment, youth diplomacy and sustainability programs.

Why it matters: - The leadership change pairs a former top UN diplomat with a founder who has built the World Madam platform across more than 40 countries. - The Foundation is positioning itself to expand its work in women’s empowerment, youth diplomacy training and sustainable development. - The appointments could shape how the organization pursues UN-facing programs, charitable initiatives and commercial growth.

What happened: - World Madam Foundation Inc. appointed H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim as chairman of the foundation, effective immediately. - Anni Huang was named chairman of the board of World Madam Group Co., Limited. - Huang will continue to lead the Group’s global brand operations and program implementation under its commercial framework. - The Foundation said the appointments combine decades of international affairs experience with a women’s leadership platform built over the past decade.

The details: - Dr. Kerim is a former president of the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, serving in 2007-2008. - He will guide the Foundation’s strategic direction across global women’s empowerment, youth diplomacy training and sustainable development programs. - Kerim holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Belgrade. - During his UN General Assembly presidency, he presided over adoption of UN Resolution A/RES/62/139, which established April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. - He later served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and chaired the High-Level Dialogue among Civilizations. - Kerim is a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. - He is a full professor at the University of Belgrade and a former visiting professor at the University of Hamburg, Harvard University and New York University. - Kerim has published more than 100 papers and 15 books and speaks seven languages. - In past UN remarks, Kerim said: “On climate, gender equality and education, women are not beneficiaries — they are the engine.” - Huang has built international brands and foundations across more than 40 countries and established World Madam City Salons in over 100 cities. - Huang has organized large-scale international events and charitable initiatives, launched the EmpowerHER Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum and spoken at UN Headquarters in New York. - Huang was named the first Chinese woman to receive the title of World Cultural Ambassador from the UN Arts Foundation. - Huang serves as chief special advisor to Ambassador Daniel del Valle Blanc, permanent representative of the former International Organization of Youth to the UN, and as a women’s empowerment advisor to the African Renaissance Alliance. - The Foundation says it holds intellectual property rights in 42 countries and territories. - The organization says it operates in more than 100 countries and regions. - The Foundation says it has organized more than 100 forums and more than 100 charitable initiatives, reaching more than 1 million women leaders and entrepreneurs. - Its programs align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on gender equality, education, good health and well-being, and climate action. - Core initiatives include the World Madam global event series, the Teen Diplomat Program, the EmpowerHER World Women Entrepreneurs Forum, and the World Madam City Salon and Women’s Growth Platform network. - The Foundation’s strategic priorities include UN side-event participation and youth observer status at the Commission on the Status of Women, UNFCCC climate conferences and UNESCO forums, with autism awareness as a sub-theme under SDG 3. - The Foundation also plans to integrate the Teen Diplomat Program with university partnerships to create certified youth diplomacy training. - Another priority is reassessing charitable initiatives against SDG 5, SDG 4, SDG 13 and SDG 3, including a new Autism Care and Support Program. - Huang said she wants to expand the City Salon, Entrepreneurship Forum and Crown Gala model across Asia, Africa and Latin America, including new intellectual property registrations. - World Madam Group Co., Limited operates with dual headquarters in China and the United States as a commercial platform supporting women’s employment and entrepreneurship through international cultural events and consumer partnerships. - In 2026, the brand is expanding into education and multimedia, including a livestream network to help women re-enter the workforce after pausing their careers for family reasons.

Between the lines: - The move gives the Foundation a more formal split between nonprofit strategy and commercial brand operations. - Dr. Kerim’s UN background suggests a stronger push for institutional credibility and access to multilateral forums. - Huang’s continued control of brand operations signals continuity in the organization’s growth and expansion model.

What’s next: - The Foundation plans to pursue more UN-related participation, youth observer status and certified diplomacy training. - It also plans to expand programming across more regions and add new IP registrations. - The Autism Care and Support Program is slated to track health, social inclusion and community outcomes. - World Madam Group is set to keep expanding into education and multimedia in 2026.