WWF appoints new Director General
13 Jul 2005
WWF is pleased to announce that Mr James P Leape will become Director General of WWF International in December 2005. He will lead and coordinate the global WWF network with 4,400 staff and offices in more than 100 countries.
Mr Leape, a 49-year-old American, has worked in nature conservation for more than 25 years. He began his career as an environmental lawyer, working on environmental protection cases in the United States, advising the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya, and co-authoring a text on environmental law.
He joined WWF-US in 1989 and for ten years directed its worldwide conservation programmes, serving as Executive Vice President. In that role, Mr Leape helped shape the global strategy of the WWF network and represented WWF in numerous international fora.
Since 2001, James Leape has directed the conservation and science initiatives of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic associations in the United States.
Mr Leape will succeed Dr Claude Martin, who has been Director General for the past 12 years.
As Director General of WWF International, Claude Martin pioneered new approaches in international conservation, including target-driven environmental policy and international partnerships, such as the WWF - World Bank Alliance on Forest Conservation, the Amazon Region Protected Areas Plan and partnerships with business and industry. During his term, WWF has helped create the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Dr Martin will continue to represent WWF in a number of high-level advisory bodies and help to build a volunteer network, allowing young people to gain hands-on conservation experience in one of WWF's many field projects.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, President and Board Chair of WWF International: "Jim Leape's appointment provides a guarantee that WWF will build on its unique strengths as an influential global environmental player.
"We have achieved much in the 44 years of WWF's existence, but so much more remains to be done, and - given the continuing degradation of our natural world - it must be done faster.
"WWF is well equipped to handle this challenge and I am convinced that, under Jim Leape's leadership, the global WWF network will fare exceedingly well in our mission to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature."
