San Francisco, February 1, 2010 — The Asia Foundation announced today that its President and Chief Executive Officer, former Congressman Douglas Bereuter, will retire from his leadership position effective December 31, 2010, having fulfilled a six-year commitment made to the Board of Trustees.
Congressman Bereuter came to the Foundation in 2004 immediately after serving 26 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he chaired the Asia-Pacific Subcommittee and was Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Intelligence Committee.
During Congressman Bereuter’s tenure, The Asia Foundation has experienced unprecedentedly rapid growth, with its core development and international relations programming in Asia growing 78 percent over the past five years. In 2009, the Foundation devoted 86 percent of its $138 million budget to core programming in Asia, including in the areas of economic reform, governance, and women’s rights and their political and economic participation. Through its Books for Asia program, the Foundation sent nearly one million new, English-language books to Asia valued at over $43 million, all donated by American publishers.
The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization, headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Washington, D.C. and 18 Asian countries, extending from Afghanistan to Korea. While the Foundation works predominantly with Asian partners, its own staff of over 700 employees is comprised of more than 25 nationalities. Under Congressman Bereuter’s leadership, The Asia Foundation greatly diversified its fundraising from other democratic countries, such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as well as from key multilateral institutions. It also increased funding resources from corporate, foundation, and individual charitable donors. During Congressman Bereuter’s time, the Foundation has reopened offices in India, Laos, and Malaysia; strengthened its strategic planning process and intellectual vigor; launched a highly-respected junior associate program to foster the career development of recent top graduates; diversified its scope of programming; and initiated an increasing number of research projects to enhance the effectiveness of development practices.
Congressman Bereuter and his wife, Louise, plan to spend the majority of their time at their home in Nebraska, re-engaging in civic affairs and the arts community, with some limited role for Congressman Bereuter in public policy and teaching roles in Washington, D.C., Nebraska, or California.
The Asia Foundation’s Board of Trustees has formed a search committee and will retain an international executive search firm in seeking a successor for Congressman Bereuter.
Founded in 1954, The Asia Foundation is committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. For media inquires, please visit our Press Room.
For media inquires, please visit our Press Room.
