AMERICUS,
GEORGIA, 12th October 2004: Rey Ramsey, chair of the board
of
directors of Habitat for Humanity International, today
announced a major change
in the management structure of the Christian housing organization.
Millard Fuller, who founded Habitat for Humanity International
in 1976, will continue
in the role of founder president. He previously held the
titles of president and chief
executive officer. Paul Leonard will become the new CEO
with responsibility for
overall management of house-building ministry.
“I have been privileged to serve as the CEO of Habitat
for Humanity from the very
beginning,” said Fuller, “and it has brought
enormous joy to my life. Now as
approach my 70th birthday, it is time for a change."
“Continuing as founder president, I will remain very
engaged in the ministry as a
spokes person and strategist, and will help in every other
way I can to strengthen
and expand the work of Habitat for Humanity throughout
the USA and around the
world.”
Leonard, who became managing director of the ecumenical
Christian non-profit
organization in June, agreed to serve as CEO while a search
committee identifies
and proposes a permanent successor as top executive, said
Ramsey.
“The board is pleased that a man with Paul Leonard’s
experience and dedication
to Habitat’s mission has made himself available on
an interim basis to serve as
CEO of Habitat for Humanity International,” added
Ramsey.
In becoming managing director, Leonard—a retired
real estate and construction
industry executive, one-time pastor and long-time Habitat
for Humanity volunteer
—made a commitment of two years’ full-time service
at Habitat’s headquarters in
Americus, to help the organization plan for the future
as it approaches its 30th
anniversary in 2006.
“We knew that Paul’s knowledge of the building
industry, his deep commitment to
Habitat and his expertise in organizational development
would be invaluable in
helping chart Habitat’s future,” said Ramsey.
“Now, he also will serve as the bridge to the next
CEO of Habitat for Humanity
International. We are grateful that he is on board to
help us through the transition
from leadership by a gifted and visionary founder to the
person who ultimately will
lead us forward.”
From Fuller’s original vision of building homes with
families in need of decent,
affordable shelter, Habitat for Humanity now has built
more than 175,000 houses
and is at work in 100 countries around the world. The
organization is on pace to
build its 200,000th house, providing Habitat shelter for
the one-millionth person in
August of next year.
“Millard’s leadership has touched the hearts
and mobilized the resources of
corporations, foundations, community groups, individual
donors and millions of
volunteers to offer shelter and hope to thousands of families,”
said Ramsey.
“He and his wife Linda have been integral to the
vision of Habitat for Humanity,
and we look forward to their continued service as Habitat
ambassadors."
“Millard decided to relinquish the position of CEO
and the board is accepting his
decision.”
“Our gratitude to him as founder of this organization
is deep and lasting. We find
ourselves now in a very positive position—having
two capable leaders with
complementary skills at the helm of the organization,
Paul as CEO and Millard as
founder president.”
David Williams, Habitat for Humanity International’s
chief operating officer for the
past several years, remains in that role with responsibility
for day-to-day management, Ramsey added.
Ramsey said the committee that will identify potential
candidates to become Habitat
for Humanity International’s permanent CEO would
have its first meeting soon.
President Jimmy Carter has graciously agreed to serve
as honorary chair of the
committee. Board members Kathleen Bader, chair, president
and CEO of Cargill
Dow LLC, The Dow Chemical Co., of Midland, Michigan, and
Larry Prible, retired
chair, president and CEO, Indianapolis Life Insurance
Co., of Indianapolis, Indiana,
will co-chair the committee.
The panel will also include an international group of
current and former board
members as well as representatives from the Habitat for
Humanity affiliate community.
“With today’s actions,” said Ramsey, “everyone
involved in the organization can
keep their focus firmly on the future.
“With more than a billion people in the world desperately
in need of decent,
affordable housing, our work of building houses and hope
requires all of our
attention and energies—and the energies of partners
around the world who share
the vision of a world without shacks, a world of decent
houses in decent
communities in which every person can experience God’s
love and can live and
grow into all that God intends.”
Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus,
Georgia, USA, is a Christian
ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. By
the end of 2005, Habitat will
have built its 200,000th house and more than one million
people will be living in
Habitat homes they helped build and are buying through
no-profit, zero-interest
mortgages. |
