JOHN SPEARS
John is the Chief Operating Officer of ONE. Prior to serving as COO, John was ONE’s Chief of Staff, serving as the principal advisor to the President and CEO, the board liason, and driving strategic initiatives throughout the organization.
ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. Whether lobbying political leaders in world capitals or running cutting-edge grassroots campaigns, ONE pressures governments to do more to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, and empowers citizens to hold their governments to account.
Co-founded by Bono and other activists, ONE is strictly nonpartisan. ONE is not a grant-making organization and does not solicit funding from the public or receive government funds. ONE is funded almost entirely by foundations, individual philanthropists and corporate partners.
Before joining the ONE team, John held numerous roles in the US Government, national political campaigns and international non-governmental organizations. While serving in the Obama Administration, he was the Senior Advisor to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator at the US Agency for International Development where he advised and led projects related to management and operations for the 10,000+ person agency, the Asia region and LGBTI issues.
John is also a professional certified coach and is passionate about challenging others to live the lives they’ve always dreamed of. He lives in Washington DC with his two pre-teen kids.