NEW YORK, 14 August 2007 – The Board of Trustees of the Ford Foundation today announced its selection of Luis Ubiñas as the next president of the foundation, succeeding Susan V. Berresford. Mr. Ubiñas will be the ninth president in the 70-year history of the Ford Foundation, the second-largest foundation in the United States.
His appointment is the result of a national and international search that began when Ms. Berresford announced plans to retire in January 2008, after 38 years of service to the institution, the last 12 as president.
Mr. Ubiñas is a Director at McKinsey & Company, where he has worked for the last 18 years. He leads McKinsey's Media Practice on the West Coast of the United States, advising Fortune 100 media, telecommunications and technology companies on major strategic and operational challenges. Raised in the South Bronx, he attended Harvard College and the Harvard Business School. Currently based in San Francisco, Mr. Ubiñas has worked extensively with companies in both developing and developed countries.
In addition to his work at McKinsey, Mr. Ubiñas has devoted much of his career to helping nonprofits accomplish their missions. He has advised senior nonprofit managers and serves on boards of several regional and national nonprofit organizations, including Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), the United Way of the Bay Area, the Steppingstone Foundation and The After School for All Partnership.
"We are delighted to have found in Luis a leader who shares our commitment to the mission and values of the Ford Foundation, who will provide bold leadership to our grant making and continue to foster an environment of creativity and innovation for our staff," said Kathryn S. Fuller, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "His life and service in business and nonprofit organizations reflect a deep appreciation of the importance of economic opportunity, access to education and social justice. He will bring both vision and practical experience to the foundation."
In the business arena, Mr. Ubiñas has led research on the impact of new technologies on business and society, has worked with traditional media companies responding to the effects of new media, and with emerging technology companies on the introduction of new media services. Much of his work has been long-range in nature, requiring years to conceive, develop and implement.
"Leading the Ford Foundation is a great privilege and honor. The foundation has been at the forefront of addressing social problems I understand personally and to which I am deeply committed. I welcome the opportunity to ensure the continuity of the work of this unique organization," Mr. Ubiñas said. "The Ford Foundation has an impressive record of achievement, demonstrating time and again the courage of its convictions. I am proud and humbled to become a part of this legacy."
Ms. Berresford has held the post since 1996, when she succeeded Franklin Thomas as the foundation's eighth president. She joined the staff in 1970 and held a variety of posts including Vice President for Programs and Chief Operating Officer.
"Susan has had an enormous impact on this foundation and the entire field of philanthropy," Ms. Fuller said. "Her vision has distinguished the foundation during her tenure and will have a lasting impact. We have been extraordinarily fortunate to benefit from her dedicated, creative and wise leadership."
During Ms. Berresford's tenure as president, the Ford Foundation expanded its work on poverty reduction, human rights, peace-building and governance reform, education and the arts. Among the initiatives Ms. Berresford oversaw are a major new graduate fellowship program for thousands of marginalized men and women around the world; a national initiative to support individual artists; and major investments in homeownership and matched savings for tens of thousands of low-income Americans.
Ms. Berresford's presidency coincided with a number of traumatic world events. "I am proud that in difficult times we quickly provided support to people in distress," Ms. Berresford said. "We helped establish the 9/11 Fund, and made grants to protect vulnerable groups in 9/11's aftermath. And I look back with pride on Ford's substantial response to natural disasters – Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami – and our continuing efforts to address the deeper causes of human suffering and vulnerability exposed by natural disasters."
"This foundation, networked around the world and driven by ambitions for fairness, democratic practice and excellence, will surely flourish under Luis Ubiñas's leadership and be important for decades to come," Ms. Berresford said. "He brings a fresh perspective and a breadth of valuable experience to the foundation and to philanthropy."
Mr. Ubiñas will take up his role as President in January, 2008, when Ms. Berresford officially retires.
"We look forward to the innovative contributions our next president will add to the Ford Foundation's extraordinary history of commitment to human welfare," Ms. Fuller said.
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement.
With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia.
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