March 4th, 2009

To: Friends of the IFG

At our recent meeting in Washington DC, February 13-15, The Board of Directors of the International Forum on Globalization announced the following transitions in leadership:

1) As had been planned over the past six months, Jerry Mander, who has been IFG's Executive Director for most of the 14 years since founding the organization in 1994, confirmed he will retire from that role, effective April 1, 2009.  Mander will continue to serve on staff, part-time, as Distinguished Fellow for Long Range Strategic Planning, from which he may also initiate special programs.  Mander remains on the IFG Board of Directors.

2) As new Executive Director of the IFG, the Board has promoted Victor Menotti, who has also been with IFG since 1994 and directed many of IFG's program areas. For most of his 14 years, Menotti was Program Director of the organization. During the last year, as a Deputy Director, Menotti has coordinated the IFG's varied climate initiatives as well as the global architecture reform programs.  He has also been deeply engaged in the Indigenous People's program.

3) Claire Greensfelder, who has been with IFG since 2006, has been promoted to IFG Deputy Director for Communications, Development, and Special Projects.  Greensfelder has been actively participating in IFG's climate and indigenous initiatives and will also coordinate IFG's Indigenous Program.

4) Yeshica Weerasekera, who has been Operations Director since 2006, will be promoted to IFG Deputy Director for Management, Finance and Operations, overseeing all financial and staff-related activities.

The Board is also pleased to announce appointment of Debi Barker to the Board. Barker served on IFG executive staff in a variety of roles since 1995, including as Executive Director from 2003-2005, and Director of the Global Agriculture Program. Barker is now the International Director of the Center for Food Safety.

Sincerely,
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the International Forum on Globalizaton (John Cavanagh, Maude Barlow, Annie Leonard, Jerry Mander, and Vicky Tauli-Corpus)