UNICEF USA Announces Planned Departure of President and CEO Caryl Stern
NEW YORK (July 17, 2019) – Today, UNICEF USA’s Chairman of the Board Peter Lamm and President and CEO Caryl Stern jointly announced Stern’s decision not to serve an additional term as President and CEO. Stern will continue to head the organization until her contract expires in June 2020 or upon the hiring of a successor.
“Leading UNICEF USA has been the privilege of my life,” said Caryl Stern. “The opportunity to be associated with such a dynamic, productive, global institution has been stimulating, satisfying and humbling. That said, after such a long tenure, I know this is the right time for the organization to bring in fresh leadership and for me to pursue my next challenge. I am fortunate and grateful to have served with such a talented and dedicated team of professionals and capable Board of Directors. I am confident that the Board will recruit a talented successor with the skills, experience and determination to continue to drive our mission forward.”
Stern has served as President and CEO of UNICEF USA since 2007. During her thirteen years of leadership, fundraising efforts more than doubled to almost $600 million. These contributions directly translated into significant reductions in child mortality and improved conditions and prospects for millions of children and mothers around the world.
“Our Board is deeply grateful to Caryl for her exemplary leadership, fearless commitment to delivering aid around the world, and steadfast championing of children’s rights,” said Peter Lamm. “During Caryl’s tenure at UNICEF USA, fundraising capacity and results materially improved and our senior management team reached the highest caliber of talent I have seen since joining the Board thirteen years ago. UNICEF USA also achieved new milestones, which included entering the world of impact investing through an innovative vehicle called the UNICEF Bridge Fund, which accelerates the pace and reduces the cost of delivering much needed supplies and vaccines to children, and establishing a strong network of 9 regional offices that pursue fundraising and advocacy. Caryl has done a terrific job and will be sorely missed.”
Mindy Grossman, the Vice Chair of the Board and the CEO of WW International commented, “Caryl has the unique ability to channel the countless children and mothers she has met in her forty plus trips to the field into one compelling voice that advances the mission of UNICEF USA. We will miss her and wish her great success in her next endeavor.”
The Board of Directors is committed to finding a new leader who will build on Caryl’s superlative tenure and continue to advance UNICEF USA’s mission. As such, the organization has formed a designated search committee and hired executive search firm Spencer Stuart to lead the process.
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About UNICEF USA
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For more information, contact
Anjulee Alvares-Cinque, UNICEF USA, 212 880 9118, aacinque@unicefusa.org
Meghan Boroughs, BerlinRosen, 646 992 8316, meghan.boroughs@berlinrosen.com