The Atlantic Philanthropies Appoint Christopher Oechsli as Interim CEO
Resource type: News
The Atlantic Philanthropies |
NEW YORK, NY, June 27, 2011 – The Atlantic Philanthropies’ Board of Directors today announced that its Transition Committee has selected Christopher Oechsli as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board announced earlier this month that President and CEO Gara LaMarche did not intend to seek a second five-year contract and would step down from his position at the Foundation on September 1, 2011.
Mr. Oechsli has a long history with Atlantic and its Founding Chairman, Charles Feeney. An attorney by training, Chris served for many years as General Counsel and Director of the General Atlantic Group Limited (GAGL), the business group created by the Founding Chairman that generated much of the foundation’s endowment. In 2000, Mr. Oechsli joined The Atlantic Philanthropies, serving first as Programme Director in Vietnam, Australia and Cuba from 2000 to 2003 and then as Population Health Programme Director from 2003 to 2005. More recently, Chris served as Counsel to Democratic Senator Russ Feingold, Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, and a Director of several international policy organisations in Washington, DC.
The Board of Directors is accepting applications for the permanent President and CEO position through July 22. The position description and application instructions are available on The Atlantic Philanthropies’ website: atlanticphilanthropies.org/job-opportunities.
The Board reiterated its earlier view that Atlantic’s historic core program themes and existing geographic locations, together with Founding Chairman initiatives, will remain the basis for future grant making and operations.
The Board also said that the leadership transition will not impact the Foundation’s commitment to Mr. Feeney’s Giving While Living philosophy and engagement with the donor in active and robust grant making during his lifetime, and that Atlantic remains on track to conclude its grant making activities by 2016.
About the Atlantic Philanthropies
The Atlantic Philanthropies are dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Atlantic makes grants through its four programme areas – Ageing, Children & Youth, Population Health, and Reconciliation & Human Rights – and through Founding Chairman grants. Programmes funded by Atlantic operate in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam. To learn more, please visit: atlanticphilanthropies.org.