President, East-West Center (EWC)

Our client, The East-West Center (EWC), is inviting applications and nominations for an outstanding leader to become President at a time of change and exciting new program opportunities. 

The Organization:

Headquartered in Honolulu with an office in Washington, D.C., the East-West Center is an independent nonprofit organization created by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to promote better relations and understanding among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region through cooperative study, research, and dialogue.  It has long been one of the region’s premier institutions for training and exchange of information and analysis on a range of critical issues of common concern.  Since its inception, some 65,000 Asian and American alumni of the Center’s programs have benefitted from degree fellowships, collaborative research, short and long-term training and seminars that have helped build capacity and leadership skills and develop policy options and action agendas for joint work on regional issues.  In recent years, these programs have been developed in partnership with an increasingly diverse group of U.S. and Asian government institutions, foundations, universities and research organizations, with greater cost-sharing by Asia-Pacific sponsoring organizations and participants.  Today about half the EWC budget comes from annual Congressional appropriations, while the “non-appropriated” funds include contracts and grants from U.S. government agencies, international organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals.

For more information on the East-West Center, see the website atwww.eastwestcenter.org.  

The Opportunity:

Recognizing the dynamic changes in the region in recent years and the continued centrality of the Asia-Pacific to U.S. interests, the Center’s Board of Governors is committed to finding an inspirational and visionary President to refine the organization’s mission and develop creative new programs that meet the emerging needs and aspirations of new generations throughout the region.  Building on the EWC’s past success and broad access to global experts, officials and opinion leaders, the new President will lead the organization in systematic efforts to expand its programmatic and funding partnerships, sharpen the focus and deepen the impact of its activities, continue to identify pressing cross-cutting regional concerns, and recruit participants who can help bring about catalytic change in their societies and build bridges between East and West.  The East-West Center – given its history, influence, resources, and central location in the Asia-Pacific region – is ideally positioned to be the region’s leading convener on issues of common interest, as well as a “go-to” source of vital information about Asia for Americans and of information about America for Asians.   

The Role:

The President is the chief executive officer of the East-West Center, and under policies and priorities established by the Board of Governors, is responsible for the intellectual and administrative leadership of the Center. The President is responsible for establishing and communicating an overall mission for the Center, keeping the board fully informed on matters relating to governance and administration, supervising and participating in the programs of the Center, maintaining external relations, and securing broad-based funding support for the Center.  Additional responsibilities include providing:

• Leadership in expanding and diversifying the Center’s funding base, from the US Congress and other US government agencies, Asian governments, research institutions, foundations, corporations and individuals;
• General management of and direction for the Center’s administration and programs in accordance with the policies, missions, goals, purposes and priorities established by the Board;
• Articulation and communication of the Center’s mission, goals, objectives, and accomplishments, both internally and externally, so as to instill a sense of purpose within the Center community and gain recognition for the Center’s work;
• Development and maintenance of relations with U.S. and Asia-Pacific leaders and organizations in government, academe, and the private sector in a manner beneficial to and befitting the Center’s reputation, capacity, and recognition as a premier regional educational and research institution;
• Close collaboration with Center officers and staff to lead the shaping and ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the Center’s programs.

Selection Criteria:

The President should be a seasoned professional of unquestioned reputation and ethics, with a devotion to public service, and all of the following attributes:

• Broad familiarity with the Asia-Pacific region;
• Academic and professional credentials that will command the respect of all the communities associated with the Center;
• Passion for the mission of the East-West Center and its potential;
• Substantial experience leveraging networks in the U.S. and across the Asia-Pacific region in both the public and private sectors;
• A successful track record of securing major funding from public and private sector sources;
• Successful experience managing large, complex organizations with international activities, both day-to-day and through periods of substantial change;
• Willingness to live in Honolulu and ability to travel extensively in the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region;
• Successful experience managing in an intercultural setting;
• A reputation for managing and leading people through cooperation, teamwork and consensus-building, in ways that balance empathy and accountability

The East-West Center is an equal opportunity, veterans and disabled employer

How to Apply:

Send applications and nominations to Mr. Derek Wilkinson, Managing Partner, Boyden via the Apply button.  Derek will be assisted in this search by his colleagues Beth Carter, Associate (bcarter@boyden.com) and Kimmo Kartano, Associate (kimmo.kartano@boyden.com). Interested parties should submit, in electronic format, a resume with salary history and a cover letter outlining reasons for interest in this role.  Pre-application inquiries are also welcome.  Feel free to contact Mr. Wilkinson on our toll free number at 1.877.2.BOYDEN (226.9336) or 1.202.536.5168 for additional information.

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