Who is Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s former head of Archewell Mandana Dayani?

Mandana Dayani has decided to step down from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s charitable foundation Archewell after 18 months. According to Deadline, “Dayani was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the media and charitable group and has exited in what has been described as an amicable and planned transition.”

In place of Mandana, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (the founders) are to take over. Mandana announced her decision to leave her post just days before Meghan and Harry’s docu series aired.

Although Mandana Dayani may not be a household name in the UK, she is very well-known in the States. According to Fortune, “Dayani is known for founding the “I am a voter” campaign, which aims to increase (in the USA) civil engagement and voter turnout.”

Mandana has also worked as a vice president with fashion designer Rachel Zoe and also worked as a commercial talent agent and corporate attorney.

Mandana Dayani was born in Iran and fled to the US as a refugee. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar she revealed that she is “grateful for the U.S every day and not just because this country may have saved my life. I came here under the promise of liberty, and now the brave women and young girls of Iran are risking their lives to protest for those same rights. Those women could have been me, they could have been my daughters.”

When she was appointed as chief operating officer to Archewell, she revealed in a statement that she was “so inspired by the vision and unwavering dedication of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to create a more united, truthful, safe and equitable world.”

Mandana is married to Peter Traugott, an American television producer and the couple have two daughters together.