Leadership Change Announced at Bush Foundation

Source: Bush Foundation 01/06/2012

(Jan. 6, 2012) - The Bush Foundation announced today that President Peter Hutchinson has resigned and will transition from his leadership role with the Foundation in January of 2012.  After joining the Foundation in November of 2007, Hutchinson led a dramatic redesign of the organization and its work.  He will serve in an advisory capacity on select Foundation initiatives.

“Peter Hutchinson brought exactly what the Bush Foundation sought in moving from a responsive grantmaker toward proactive funding to achieve specific strategic goals,” said Jan Malcolm, Board chair.  “The goals and strategies in each of our three areas of focus – student achievement, governance in Native nations, and community problem-solving through leadership development and citizen engagement – are on track.  Our next step is execution and refinement of these strategies.  Peter’s gifts of envisioning and bold goal-setting have served both the Foundation and the region very well.  We are committed to finding as strong a fit in our next leader as we found in Peter almost five years ago.”

“On the day I started in 2007, the Board of the Foundation said unequivocally that they wanted to make a difference on the tough problems facing our communities,” said Hutchinson.  “It took courage to make themselves accountable for what happens in teacher preparation, in Native nation-building, and in community problem-solving.  I have been privileged to lead the work of redefining the role of the Foundation.  My part in leading the journey is over, but the journey will continue, and I’ll help in every way I can.”

A transition committee of the Board has undertaken steps toward both a search process and an interim organizational approach, to be reviewed at the Foundation’s annual meeting in February.  In the interim, senior staff of the Foundation will report to Malcolm.

About the Bush Foundation

Our mission is to be a catalyst for the courageous leadership necessary to create sustainable solutions to tough public problems and ensure community vitality. The Foundation was established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth, and today works in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area. Learn more at BushFoundation.org.