The Walton Family Foundation has named former UNICEF USA CEO Caryl Stern as the organization’s new executive director. Stern is replacing Kyle Peterson, who announced in January 2019 that he was stepping down as the foundation’s chief executive.
Board chair Carrie Walton Penner announced the board’s decision to hire Stern, noting her leadership experience. Most recently, Stern served as president and CEO for UNICEF USA, a role she filled for 12 years, leading the national office and managing 10 regional offices.
“Caryl’s incredible record of leadership and service makes her the perfect choice for the Walton Family Foundation,” Penner said in a statement. “We are excited to have her join us in making a difference for those we serve.”
Starting January 2020, Stern will be taking the reins of the Walton Family Foundation, where she will oversee the foundation’s charitable efforts, which exceeded $595 million in 2018. The Walton Family Foundation focused on three primary areas: K-12 education; protecting waterways, including rivers and oceans; and investing in Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.
She will be based at the foundation’s Bentonville office. Stern will manage additional offices in Denver, Colo., Jersey City, N.J., and Washington, D.C., with a total of 100 staff members.
“It is an honor to become a part of the critical work of the Walton Family Foundation,” Stern said. “For decades, the foundation has focused on addressing some of the biggest challenges of our time. Guided by family leadership combined with staff expertise and a committed grantee network, the Walton Family Foundation is creating meaningful change in individual lives and in communities.”
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