Dear John,

We are pleased to let you know that earlier today WRI’s Global Board announced that it has selected Ani Dasgupta to be the next President and CEO of WRI. Ani, who currently leads WRI’s Cities program, will become just the 4th President in the institute’s nearly 40-year history.

Ani is a recognized leader in sustainable cities, urban design and poverty alleviation. Originally from Delhi, India, Ani has led the Cities program for the last 7 years and was a Director of Knowledge and Learning at the World Bank, where he developed the first Knowledge Strategy, among other initiatives. Under Ani’s leadership, the Cities program has grown to a 400-person team, working in over 150 cities and a reach to 400 cities in total. Ani helped launch several new, large initiatives, including the New Urban Mobility alliance (NUMO), the Coalition for Urban Transitions, and a new line of work around urban air quality. The Cities program has increasingly focused on people, health and equity, which are highly relevant topics in today’s world. Ani will be able to build on that track record as he moves into his new role.

We also want to share the bittersweet news that Manish Bapna, WRI’s Interim President and CEO, will be departing the organization to become the new President and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). During his 14+ years at WRI, Manish has been a popular and highly respected member of the Executive Team. Manish has had numerous accomplishments at WRI: He helped lead WRI’s expansion globally including establishing its offices in China, India and Brazil, guided several institutional strategies, and oversaw its programs, centers and global network. He was also a key architect of several major initiatives, including the International Research Forum on the SDGs, NDC Partnership and Global Commission on Adaptation.

This is an important moment for WRI and the world. We are fortunate to have a deep bench of experts, strong partnerships and a solid financial foundation. We are confident that Ani will bring bold ideas and clear thinking to the table. This is also a time when decisions need to incorporate a diversity of views, and Ani will bring an inclusive and collective leadership approach. 

As we look ahead, we are excited about the future of both WRI and NRDC. We look forward to welcoming Ani to his new role, and we wish Manish great success. We are pleased that these two organizations have such strong bonds, sharing common missions and values and even common DNA. We know that they will continue to work closely together.

We also want to thank all of our partners and donors who have stood by the organization, especially though the difficult past year. Thank you for your ongoing support to ensure that WRI’s high-quality work and impact will carry forward into the future.

Regards,

David Blood, Co-chair, WRI Global Board
James Harmon, Co-chair, WRI Global Boardd