New Appointees Include Katharina Koenig, of CVC, Brad Freer, of Capital Group, and Ashwin Vasan, Former Commissioner of Health, New York City.
RUTHERFORD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#HealthPolicy—One Mind™, a leading mental health and brain research nonprofit, has announced the addition of three seasoned executives and investors, Brad Freer, Katharina Koenig, and Ashwin Vasan, to the organization’s board of directors, effective immediately. As board members, Brad Freer, Katharina Koenig, and Ashwin Vasan will provide valuable insights and perspective towards the strategy of One Mind’s multitude of initiatives.
Bradford F. Freer is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group. Brad has 31 years of investment industry experience and has been with Capital Group for 30 years. Earlier in his career at Capital, he was an equity investment analyst covering multiple sectors as a generalist in both Australia and India. Before that he was an equities trader in both Singapore and Hong Kong. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Connecticut College, as well as the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
“I am both humbled and excited to join the One Mind board. At both Capital Group and One Mind, I see a shared commitment to tackling big challenges by investing in empowered, innovative individuals and fostering collaboration. This approach leads to meaningful insights and impactful solutions. One Mind’s effort to support entrepreneurs, scientists, and organizations working to improve mental health outcomes is an incredibly important mission I look forward to supporting.”
Katharina Koenig joined CVC in 2023 as Chief People Officer and is based in London. Prior to CVC, she worked for over twenty years at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong and London. A long time champion for mental health, Katharina served on the Advisory Board for the Columbia – WHO Center for Global Mental Health for over a decade, completing her tenure of service in 2023. Katharina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Communication from Boston University.
«I am truly delighted to be joining the One Mind board and to help drive its important mission. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Kathy Pike through our shared commitments to the Asian University for Women Support Foundation and the Columbia University Global Mental Health Program. This lifelong journey of collaboration and purpose now continues with One Mind, and I look forward to advancing its visionary work to transform mental health globally.»
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD is a nationally recognized physician, epidemiologist, and health policy expert who served as New York City’s Health Commissioner from 2021 to 2024, leading the city’s COVID-19 recovery and launching HealthyNYC, a data-driven initiative to raise life expectancy. His tenure was defined by bold efforts in mental health, reproductive care, overdose prevention, and healthcare affordability—including forgiving $2 billion in medical debt and creating NYC’s first Office of Healthcare Accountability. A leader in public-private partnerships, he advanced digital mental health services like NYC TeenSpace, expanded care for people with severe mental illness, and strengthened public health workforce wellness. Previously, he led Fountain House, a national mental health nonprofit, and began his career expanding AIDS treatment globally with Partners In Health and the WHO. He advises elected officials and institutions including the Milken Institute and Columbia University, and holds degrees from UCLA, Harvard, the University of Michigan, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“Mental health is the most significant health crisis of our time, and one that knows no bounds and respects no divisions. We all have and are impacted by mental health, and so it requires all of us to marshal a response, to ensure that no one suffers in silence, without the community and care that they need. For decades, One Mind has brought together leading researchers and scholars, practitioners and advocates, toward a whole-of-society approach to brain health and mental wellbeing, grounded in science and in lived experience. I’m proud to join their efforts and to advance One Mind’s work as a member of the Board.”
Also sitting on One Mind’s Board of Directors are Caryl Athanasiu, Tanisha Carino, PhD, Russ Deyo, Donna Friedman, Chela Gage, Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, Christopher Lyle, Robina Riccitiello, Harvey Schwartz, Garen Staglin (Chairman), Shari Staglin, Martha R. Temple, Gordon Watson, Gwill York, and Matthew Zubrow.
“As we celebrate One Mind’s 31st year, the strength of our Board of Directors has never been more important as we advance our leadership in research, innovation and workplace mental health. We are delighted to welcome Brad, Katharina, and Ashwin to the One Mind board,” said Garen Staglin, Co-Founder and Chairman of One Mind. “Their deep expertise in venture capital, workplace wellness, and health policy comes at a critical time—when advancing research and scalable solutions is more urgent than ever. We believe we are at an inflection moment for mental health innovation and their leadership will strengthen our ability to drive global impact and expand philanthropic support for brain health.”
The new members have already begun their work to support One Mind’s mission and drive meaningful change. Most recently, Dr. Ashwin Vasan delivered the keynote speech at the 9th Annual One Mind at Work Global Forum, which took place on May 12-14, 2025 at The Archer Hotel in Napa, CA. The One Mind at Work Global Forum is the premier event for those committed to advancing mental health in the workplace. The One Mind at Work members-only event brings together CEOs, HR leaders, and mental health experts from around the world to discuss the latest research, share best practices, and develop strategies to improve mental health at work. If you are interested in learning more about One Mind at Work membership, please get in touch for more information.
About One Mind™
One Mind is at the forefront of a transformative movement in mental health, delivering innovative solutions to address critical gaps in mental health research, care, workplace wellness, and public perception. Guided by science and lived experience, we fund groundbreaking research, accelerate innovation, enhance workplace wellness, and engage the public to reshape mental health care and awareness. With science as our cornerstone, and people at the heart of what we do, our programs are setting new standards for effective interventions and redefining the future of mental health.
Contacts
PR Contact:
pr@onemind.org
