TORONTO, June 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The MasterCard Foundation today announced several changes to its Board of Directors, including the appointment of Jim Leech as Chair and the addition of Craig Calhoun and Douglas Baillie as Directors. This follows the completion of terms for founding Board Chair, Lois Juliber and founding Directors, Phillip Clay and Paul Ostergard.
"I am proud of what the Foundation has accomplished since inception," said Lois Juliber. "Nine years ago we started the Foundation with a generous donation from MasterCard shareholders and a Board of Directors. We created an ambitious vision, hired a strong management team and today are one of the world's largest foundations, having committed over $1.4 billion to projects in 25 countries – all with the goal of alleviating poverty in Africa. Under Jim Leech's leadership, the new Directors and Board are very well-positioned to move this important work forward."
Jim Leech, C.M. is Chancellor of Queen's University and Senior Advisor with McKinsey and Company. He recently retired as President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, one of the world's leading pension investment organizations, and the largest, single profession pension in Canada. He has served on The MasterCard Foundation's Board since 2011.
"I am honoured to be appointed Chair of The MasterCard Foundation Board," said Jim Leech. "Lois Juliber did a phenomenal job establishing the Foundation as a highly-regarded funder doing innovative work in Africa. I want to thank her for her leadership and also founding Board members Phillip Clay and Paul Ostergard for their valuable contributions."
Craig Calhoun, Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Douglas Baillie, Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever, are also joining the Foundation Board of Directors.
"Both Craig and Doug are extraordinary additions to the Foundation's Board of Directors," said Leech. "Craig's experience in applied social sciences will be invaluable and Doug brings strong business acumen as well as a deep knowledge of working in Africa."
Craig Calhoun is an accomplished sociologist and was a professor at New York University, Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge and President of the Social Science Research Council before joining the London School of Economics. He is the author of several books, including Nations Matter, Critical Social Theory, Neither Gods Nor Emperors and most recently, The Roots of Radicalism.
Douglas Baillie has served as the President of Western Europe at Unilever Plc and Unilever NV, President of the African Regional Group at Unilever and Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Unilever Ltd. He served on several external boards, including the Advertising Standards Authority and the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and he was also a member of the South African Presidential Big Business working group.
The MasterCard Foundation Board of Directors currently includes:
- Jim Leech, C.M. is Chancellor of Queen's University and Senior Advisor with McKinsey and Company. He was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
- Douglas Baillie, Chief Human Resources Officer of Unilever
- Craig Calhoun, Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science
- Jendayi Frazer, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
- Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana
- Don Morrison, former Chief Operating Officer of Research in Motion
- Hutham Olayan, Principal and Director of The Olayan Group
- Theodore Solso, Executive Chairman of General Motors and retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins Inc.
About The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. As one of the largest, independent foundations, its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion in order to alleviate poverty. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by MasterCard when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org
For more information, please contact:
Toni Tiemens
Deputy Director, Communications
The MasterCard Foundation
ttiemens@mastercardfdn.org
+1 647-837-5787