London, UK (Sept. 10, 2026) - The World Kindness Movement (WKM) has elected a new leadership team that will reflect the organization's founding purpose: serving as the global representative, voice and amplifier for the world's kindness community. 

Alan Williams of the United Kingdom has been named President. He is joined by three new officers: Vice-President Natalia Reurso of Italy, Secretary General Francesca Donlan of Rhode Island, USA, and Treasurer Jenny Haase of Utah, USA. Both former presidents Stephen Oke, of Nigeria, and Nirmala Mehendale, of India, will support the team in its efforts. 

“The new leadership team believes that the future of kindness isn't one organization, or an event celebrated one day a year,” Williams said. “It requires a global community to work together and make kindness the bedrock of everyday life.” 

WKM is a global, non-political, non-commercial and non-religious initiative that promotes kindness as a universal value capable of bridging cultural, political and geographical divides. It was founded in 1997 at a conference in Tokyo, where kindness organizations from around the world created a global roadmap for compassion and goodwill. In 1998, WKM established World Kindness Day, now celebrated annually on November 13. WKM brings together people and organizations working to make kindness a more visible and valued part of everyday life