Swiss-based non-profit NatureFinance has named Julie McCarthy as CEO, switching from a co-CEO model following Simon Zadek’s decision to step down. McCarthy initially joined NatureFinance in 2022 as managing director before becoming co-CEO in October 2023. With more than two decades of non-profit experience, McCarthy founded and was co-director of the Open Society Foundations’ Economic Justice Program, a US$100 million per annum global grantmaking and impact investment initiative focused on fiscal justice, workers’ rights, and corporate governance. She also was founding director of the Open Government Partnership, a multilateral initiative aimed at securing commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote open government, combat corruption, and improve governance. “Julie is a proven and respected leader who brings a track record of success, strategic insights, and deep knowledge at the intersection of financial and economic governance, equity and sustainability, a combination that positions her well to steer NatureFinance in this next chapter,” said Marianne Haahr, Chair of NatureFinance. Founded by Zadek in 2019, NatureFinance expanded into a 40-person strong global organisation focused on driving a nature positive financial transition, accelerating sustainability-linked sovereign finance, and advancing a sustainable global bioeconomy. “Beyond incubating NatureFinance into the dynamic global organization that it is today, [Simon] leaves an extraordinary legacy in helping shape and advance the field of nature finance during its most formative phase,” added Haahr.
