The board of directors of People For Puget Sound is happy to announce the hiring of Tom Bancroft as the organization’s next executive director.
Bancroft, who holds a PhD in ecology, has had a distinguished career as an environmentalist and leader. Most recently he was Chief Scientist and Vice President of the National Audubon Society. Prior to that he was Vice President of The Wilderness Society. While he will be new to the Puget Sound region, he is well-acquainted with our challenges. Just last year, he headed up National Audubon’s scientific evaluations of the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf. He has worked for many years on restoration and management of the Everglades, and he is familiar with Puget Sound and its watersheds from his work with The Wilderness Society.
He will be relocating to Puget Sound from the Washington, DC area, and will be introduced at People For Puget Sound’s April 6 “New Day for Puget Sound” luncheon in Seattle, featuring speaker Sylvia Earle.
“It’s great to have an internationally-known scientist lead our organization and to carry on speaking the truth based on the best available science,” said Board President Bill Derry. “I am confident that he will take us to new levels, grow the organization and make us even more successful at protecting Puget Sound.”
“I am excited to be joining the People For Puget Sound team,” said Bancroft. “I am looking forward to working on the conservation of Puget Sound, a world-renowned estuary system. It’s a great time to be part of this effort.”
“I had the pleasure of meeting Tom during the selection process, and I am delighted that he will be the new leader of People For Puget Sound,” said Martha Kongsgaard, chair of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council. “People For Puget Sound is one of our key partners in the effort to restore the Sound’s health, and I look forward to working with Tom as he moves into this new role.”
Tom will be succeeding founder and Executive Director Kathy Fletcher who will be retiring at the end of June 2011.
“I am thrilled and confident about People For Puget Sound’s future under Tom Bancroft’s leadership,” said Fletcher. “He has the outstanding background and personal qualities we were looking for.