We are pleased to share an important announcement from Mark Hetfield, whose leadership and dedication have been instrumental in shaping HIAS over the years. Please read his letter below to learn more about the next chapter for Mark and HIAS.

Dear Network Agency Members:

I have some exciting news to share with you. I hope you will spread the word to people you think may be interested and qualified candidates.

I first joined HIAS in 1989 as a caseworker in Rome, back when HIAS served refugees because they were Jewish. Nowadays, we serve refugees of all religions and ethnicities (including refugees who are Jewish!) because we are a Jewish organization, built on shared Jewish and humanitarian values. Today, the size of HIAS, our impact, our internationality, and the diversity of our staff and the people we serve is exponentially larger than twelve years ago, when I received the honor of my lifetime by becoming the President and CEO of the world’s oldest organization dedicated to serving forcibly displaced persons.

With the HIAS board’s support, I’ve decided to move to another role at HIAS. The organization is splitting the role of President and CEO. I have moved into the role of President. I am already working in that capacity to support interim CEO David Weiss as the Board recruits a new CEO to lead HIAS into its next era. I will report to and support the new CEO of this increasingly complex organization. The CEO will report to the HIAS board.

What makes HIAS so special is that the displaced persons whom we once served, their children and their grandchildren, are now supporting and working with HIAS to welcome the displaced persons of today. HIAS has survived and thrived as the embodiment of the Jewish concept of l’dor v’dor – from generation to generation.

I look forward to working with you all as I transition to this new role.

Very best regards,
Mark

Click here to read the HIAS Statement on Launch of CEO Search