13/07/2005 - WWF is pleased
to announce that James P Leape will become
Director General of WWF International in December
2005.
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 (UNEP), and
co-authoring a leading American text on environmental
law.
Leape joined WWF-US in 1989 and for ten years
directed its international conservation programmes,
serving as Executive Vice-President. In that
role, he helped shape the global strategy
of the WWF network and represented WWF in
numerous international fora. Since 2001, he
has directed the conservation and science
initiatives of the David and Lucile Packard
Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic
associations in the United States.
"Jim Leape's appointment provides a
guarantee that WWF will build on its unique
strengths as an influential global environmental
player," said Chief Emeka Anyaoku, President
and Board Chair of WWF International.
"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."
Leape will succeed Dr Claude Martin, who
has been Director General for the past 12
years. Dr Martin joined WWF as a biologist
in the early 1970s, working on field projects
in India and Africa before becoming the CEO
of WWF-Switzerland in 1980. Under his leadership,
the Swiss organization became a leading environmental
player in the country and one of the strongest
links in the WWF network.
As Director General of WWF International,
Dr 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.
WWF International, through its international
secretariat in Gland, Switzerland, leads and
coordinates the global WWF network with 4,400
staff and offices in more than 100 countries.
