Committee chaired by Board Member Kausik Rajgopal will guide leadership transition as the Council continues momentum on major regional economic priorities

The Bay Area Council today announced the formation of a Search Committee to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer. The committee of ten Bay Area Council Board members will be chaired by Kausik Rajgopal, who is the current Chair of the Nominating and Governance committee of the Council and PayPal Executive Vice President, and a former Council Chair.

Joining Rajgopal on the search committee are current Council Chair Kristina Lawson, Managing Partner of Hanson Bridgett; Michael Covarrubias, Chairman and CEO, TMG Partners; David Cush, former CEO, Virgin America; Mary Huss, former President & Publisher, San Francisco Business Times; Janet Lamkin, former Senior Vice President, Global Market and Community Innovation, United Airlines; Alex Mehran Sr., Chairman, Sunset Development; Lenny Mendonca, Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey; Carla Peterman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, PG&E; and Carrie Owen Plietz, President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Northern California. These top leaders have deep ties to the region and the Bay Area Council and understand the organization’s mission, culture and objectives. Covarrubias, Cush, Huss, Lamkin, Mehran and Mendonca are also former Council Chairs and members of the Nominating and Governance committee.

The committee will launch a global search that reflects the Council’s deep commitment to advancing policies and initiatives that grow the Bay Area economy, enhance the region’s competitive standing, and tackle the complex economic and civic challenges facing communities across the nine-county region. The Council expects the search process to be strategic, inclusive, thorough, and informed by the priorities of its diverse and engaged membership.

The launch of the search follows the announcement that Jim Wunderman is stepping down as CEO after more than two decades and joining California Forever as Head of Public Affairs. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to lead the Bay Area Council over the past two decades,” Wunderman said. “Behind the dedicated leadership of a highly engaged Board and the finest professional staff you could ever hope to assemble, we’ve made huge strides in growing the Council’s reach, influence and effectiveness. Our leadership and impact on housing, public safety, homelessness, transportation and so many other issues is unmatched. I’m excited to see the Council start a new chapter and continue the work of making the Bay Area the most innovative, economically competitive, sustainable, and inclusive region in the world.”

To ensure continuity and stability during the transition, the Council recently appointed Chief Operating Officer John Grubb as Interim President and CEO. Grubb, a seasoned executive and respected leader within the organization and across the region for more than 25 years, will oversee daily operations to maintain the Council’s momentum while the search moves forward. As the Council enters this new chapter, the organization is well-positioned for continued impact. With strong staff expertise, active Board engagement, and a clear vision for the region’s future, the Council will continue to build on its accomplishments and momentum.

Rajgopal said the creation of the Search Committee comes at a pivotal moment for the organization and for the region. “This is a time of great opportunity for the Bay Area Council,” Rajgopal said. “Our region is at an inflection point—with big challenges but even bigger potential. This transition gives us the chance to find a visionary CEO who can build on Jim’s remarkable accomplishments, build on John’s steady interim leadership, and guide the Council to further strengthen the Bay Area’s economy and quality of life for all who live here.”

The Search Committee will work with global executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles and its social impact executive search practice, which specializes in helping philanthropy, government, higher education, academic and non-profit clients find new leadership. Heidrick & Struggles, founded in 1953, was one of the first executive search firms established in the United States. Candidates interested in the Bay Area Council CEO role can reach out to bacceo@heidrick.com for more information.

About the Bay Area Council

The Bay Area Council is a business-sponsored, public-policy advocacy organization for the nine-county Bay Area. The Council proactively advocates for a strong economy, a vital business environment, and a better quality of life for everyone who lives here. Founded in 1945, the Bay Area Council is widely respected by elected officials, policy makers and other civic leaders as the voice of Bay Area business. Today, more than 350 of the largest employers in the region support the Bay Area Council and offer their CEO or top executive as a member. Our members employ more than 4.43 million workers and have revenues of $1.94 trillion, worldwide. Learn more at www.bayareacouncil.org.

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