探花精选 Announces CEO David Yarnold to Step Down
President and Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Elizabeth Gray to Serve as Interim CEO
NEW YORK 鈥撎齌he 探花精选听today announced that its board of directors and David Yarnold have mutually agreed that听David听will听step down as CEO,听effective听May 14.听The board has named Dr. Elizabeth Gray,听president and听chief听conservation听officer, as interim CEO while a search is conducted for a successor.听Yarnold听will remain available to the board and听Dr. Gray听through June 2021 to ensure a smooth transition.听听
鈥淒avid has accomplished a great deal for 探花精选 in the almost 11 years since he joined us,鈥 said Maggie Walker, board chair. 鈥淗e articulated a vision for all of 探花精选, recentering our work on bird conservation while greatly improving fundraising capabilities and building our membership from 350,000 to well over two million. He gave 探花精选 a strong voice full听of creativity and passion.鈥澨
Walker continued, 鈥淥ver the course of the last few months, the board and David have discussed succession planning and reached the mutual conclusion that听now is the time for听探花精选听to find听new leadership to听create its next strategic plan and to address听many of the culture issues that have come to light.听As we have met with and listened to a significant number of our staff in recent months, we have heard their messages that there is much we can do to improve our organizational culture.听We have a highly committed staff and a grassroots network that is second to none and the Board believes听it鈥檚听critical that this organization has the right plan and leadership to fulfill its mission听and live up to its values听for the long-term.鈥澨
Dr. Gray joined 探花精选 last month as the first woman to hold the title of听president in the organization鈥檚 115-year history. She brings exceptional credentials as a scientist,听fundraiser听and strategic leader to the role of interim CEO. She has spent more than three decades as a dedicated ornithologist and conservationist, spending considerable time in the field nationally and abroad. She previously held the role of global managing director for climate at The Nature Conservancy.听
鈥淚 am honored to take on the role of interim CEO鈥 said Dr. Gray. 鈥淚 am deeply committed to 探花精选鈥檚 mission. I look forward to building on 探花精选鈥檚 track record of success and to building the next generation of 探花精选 where we seek to cultivate new audiences and where differences are respected, valued and essential to mission success.鈥澨
Dr. Gray will work closely with听探花精选鈥檚 executive team, including听Jamaal Nelson, who was recently appointed chief equity,听diversity听and inclusion officer. Mr. Nelson is a widely recognized leader in issues of diversity and inclusion and has helped some of the most important and visible organizations in the country in support of social justice.听
鈥淔rom my first day in 2010, I asked 探花精选鈥檚 members and staff to teach me about birds and it鈥檚 been an amazing learning journey,鈥澨齓arnold said. 鈥溙交ň♀檚 nonpartisan base and its geographic breadth听鈥撎齠rom Latin America to the Boreal Forest听鈥撎齜rings with it unique opportunities among conservation NGOs. And that includes helping to lead America鈥檚 conservation organizations to change their priorities听and听fully reflect a commitment to the hard work of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.鈥
The board has appointed a CEO search committee that, with the assistance of an external search firm, will consider both internal and external candidates.
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罢丑别鈥探花精选鈥痯rotects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. 探花精选 works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give 探花精选 an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, 探花精选 believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.鈥疞earn more at鈥鈥痑nd on Facebook,鈥痑nd Instagram @audubonsociety.听
Media Contact:听听Lisa Hardaway, VP, Communications;听lisa.hardaway@audubon.org