Commonfund Gets New CEO; Make-a-Wish America Leader Plans to Depart

CommonFund

Mark Anson has been promoted to chief executive officer of Commonfund, which manages assets worth $25 billion, largely for tax-exempt groups, including foundations and colleges. Anson succeeds Catherine Keating, who is leaving Commonfund for BNY Mellon.

Make-A-Wish America

David Williams, CEO since 2005, will leave the charity later this year. He is credited with doubling revenue during his tenure. A search is underway for his replacement.

Edgar Sandoval has been promoted from chief operating officer to president of World Vision U.S.

Abigail Dillen, vice president for climate and energy at the environmental-law nonprofit Earthjustice, has been promoted to president, effective October 1. She will replace Trip Van Noppen, who is retiring after 10 years at the helm.

Lindsay Firestone Gruber, chief program officer at the Taproot Foundation, has been promoted to CEO. She succeeds the interim CEO Sarah Mankowski, who will return to her role as board co-chair.

Thomas Skalak, founding executive director of the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, stepped down May 31. He plans to pursue scientific opportunities as an artist in residence at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in California.

Giuseppe (Seppy) Basili, director of strategic initiatives and chief operating officer at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, has been promoted to executive director.

The social-impact consulting firm FSG has promoted two of its senior leaders to serve as co-CEOs. Greg Hills has been with FSG since 2004 and most recently led its corporate consulting practice. Lauren Smith, a board-certified physician, has directed the company’s U.S. health practice since 2015. They take over for Mark Kramer and John Kania, who led the firm for most of the 18 years it has existed.

Christopher Plamp, interim chief executive of Hire Heroes USA, was appointed permanently to the position.

Gisselle Acevedo, CEO of Para Los Niños, a social-service charity in Los Angeles, has been named president of the Ackerman Institute for the Family. She will succeed Lois Braverman, who is stepping down after 12 years leading the institute.

J.D. Greear, a pastor in Durham, N.C., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He replaces Steve Gaines, who stepped down after two one-year terms.

Derek Mitchell has been appointed president of the National Democratic Institute. He succeeds Ken Wollack, who is retiring.

Bonnie Wattles has joined Hilarity for Charity as its first executive director. Husband-and-wife actors Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller started the charity to support Alzheimer’s care and research.

Jan Carruthers, a fundraising consultant and deputy director of the Edge Foundation, will take the reins as the charity’s executive director.

Barbara Tulipane, CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association, is stepping down.

Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was dismissed following a board investigation into how he handed a sexual-abuse inquiry while leading another organization. Patterson has disputed the accuracy of the claims.