New CEO of Academy of Natural Sciences expert at money and management
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia has announced its new president and CEO, and he’s not a scientist.
The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia has announced its new president and CEO, and he’s not a scientist.
George Gephart worked for decades as an investment manager and is currently the chairman of Main Line Health System. It’s apparent he’ll focus on fundraising.
Most leaders of non-profits have a background in the field. The president of the Curtis Institute of Music is a violinist…the head of the Art Museum is an art historian. The previous CEO of the Academy of Natural Sciences is a zoologist who left to run an environmental research center in Massachusetts. George Gephart comes from the world of money and management.
Although not commonplace, recruiting leaderships from the business world is increasing, says Laura Otten at La Salle University’s Nonprofit Center. Otten says an outside perspective on organizational management can be advantageous.
Otten:
If that person is coming in with an arrogance that says the business world knows everything and the non-profit knows nothing, it’s a recipe for disaster. If that person comes in saying there are things the business world does better, things the non-profit world does better, bringing that different perspective while embracing what the non-prof does well is very advantageous.
The new CEO starts at the Academy of Natural Sciences in August. He says he will leverage the institution’s upcoming bicentennial celebration to engage more corporate and philanthropic donations.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.