Leadership Change at the Organization

After three years as the President and CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions, Charles J. Brown informed the organization’s board of directors that he was resigning, effective at the end of September 2007.

Upon accepting Brown’s resignation, the board appointed Raj Purohit, who has served as Senior Fellow for the past two years, as the organization’s Interim Director. The board also announced that they are working together to set out the criteria for the selection of a permanent leader for the organization.

“We deeply appreciate all that Charlie has accomplished during the past three years and we know that all of our members join us in wishing him well as he pursues new challenges,” said Chairs of the Citizens for Global Solutions’ boards Marjorie Ramp and Donald Ferencz.

Brown, who recently became a father for the first time, said “It has been a privilege serving as your President, following in the footsteps of such extraordinary leaders as Norman Cousins and John Anderson. The opportunities I have had to work with so many of you over my tenure will remain among my most valued and cherished memories.”

The board chairs noted the phenomenal accomplishments of Citizens for Global Solutions during Brown’s tenure as the organization’s President and CEO.  They specifically noted the work of the organization’s members and staff on core issues of importance ranging from the International Criminal Court to the United Nations and genocide in Darfur.

“Thanks to our members’ work and that of our terrific staff, we were able to repel the Bush administration’s attacks on the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the process helping put a stop to the administration’s efforts to penalize those countries who have joined the ICC. We have helped convince key officials that it is in America’s best interests to start working with the ICC to bring an end to the genocide in Darfur.

“We also worked with partner organizations to defeat the unilateralist campaign against the United Nations, preventing their efforts to cut U.N. dues – and in the very near future – to end the cap on peacekeeping dues. We continue to work with our partners and friends to promote the bold concept of the international community’s Responsibility to Protect those at risk of mass atrocities. In these and other ways, Citizens for Global Solutions has worked to make the U.N. the effective and capable institution we need to respond to the threats and challenges of a new century,”Ramp and Ferencz said.

The board chairs also noted the organization’s work to connect the global to local in cities like Indianapolis, Des Moines, Santa Fe, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis. In these communities the organization has helped build local coalitions of activists, giving them the skills they need to talk about global issues in their hometowns. For example, earlier this year, Citizens for Global Solutions worked closely with the Darfur divestment campaign in Indiana.

“We are beginning to help local activists have an impact not only at home, but around the world as well,” they said.