IFES is pleased to announce that Leonard Williams will join the organization as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Leonard will serve on the Executive Leadership Team and provide strategic vision and leadership to ensure financial integrity and the implementation of effective financial systems and processes. He will oversee the financial strategy, management, accounting, compliance, budgeting and forecasting, audit oversight, and IT functions of the organization.  

“As threats to global democracy proliferate and the funding landscape for democracy support grows more complex, strong financial strategies are more important than ever,” said IFES President and CEO Tony Banbury. “Leonard has demonstrated over the course of a successful career the innovative and steadfast leadership that IFES needs to steward our resources and advance our mission in the years to come.”  

Throughout his career, Leonard has designed and implemented effective financial transactions and strategies and prepared organizations for complex risk scenarios. As Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the Nature Conservancy, he drove the design and implementation of a $130 million impact investment, leveraging carbon offsets, sustainable timbering, mineral royalties, and recreational leases, enabling the conservation of 254,000 acres of forest in Appalachia. Prior to his role at the Nature Conservancy, Leonard served as the CFO, COO, and Interim President of Verizon Federal Systems. Under his leadership that line of business grew its annual revenues by over 40%.    

He is a frequent speaker on topics around treasury management, enterprise resource planning, enterprise risk assessment, and addressing the interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss through innovative impact financing strategies. His work for was profiled in CFO Intelligence Magazine.   

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Leonard holds a BSE in Computer Science and Engineering, an MSEE in Computer and Information Systems from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering, and an MBA in Finance and Decision Sciences from Wharton Graduate School of Business.  

Leonard will succeed current IFES CFO Mike Meenan. He will begin his role at IFES on August 26, 2024.