PUBLISHED: JANUARY 15, 2002

Dr. Leon Irish tendered his resignation as President of ICNL at the recent meeting of the ICNL Board of Directors. The ICNL Board accepted his resignation but was pleased to appoint him as President Emeritus and Senior Legal Advisor. Dr. Irish will continue to work full-time out of the Washington office. Dr. Irish, who was a co-founder of ICNL, served as Chairman of ICNL from 1992 to 1996 and President from 1997 to 2001.

The Board of Directors was pleased to appoint Mr. Stephan Klingelhofer as ICNL’s President and Chief Executive Officer to succeed Dr. Leon Irish. Mr. Klingelhofer, who joined ICNL in 1994, has served ICNL as Vice President (Administration) and Chief Operating Officer. He has represented ICNL in international forums and developed and managed ICNL programs in various countries and regions. Previously, Mr. Klingelhofer served in a variety of leadership positions in business, education, religious, and charitable organizations.

Mr. Klingelhofer has appointed Mr. Douglas Rutzen Senior Vice President, with responsibilities for programmatic development and oversight. Mr. Rutzen also joined ICNL in 1994, and has been Vice President (Program), with particular responsibility for development and management of ICNL’s work in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as specific program work in post-conflict situations in Kosovo and East Timor.

ICNL is also delighted to announce that Ms. Natalia Bourjaily has become Vice President (NIS), and Ms. Darla Mecham has been named Vice President (Finance). Ms. Bourjaily joined ICNL in 1997 and has served as Program Director for NIS/FSU. Ms. Mecham also joined ICNL in 1997 and has served as Director of Finance.

ICNL has appointed Ms. Nilda Bullain Legal Advisor in its Budapest Office. Ms. Bullain previously served as Executive Director of the Civil Society Development Foundation in Hungary, and has been a leading civil society advocate in the region.

The consultancy of Prof. Karla Simon, co-founder and first CEO of ICNL, has ended. She has become co-director at the Center for International Development (CISD) at the Catholic University of America. We wish her all the best in this new position.