WASHINGTON (January 21, 2022)—After seven years at World Resources Institute (WRI), including serving as the organization’s Vice President of Climate and Economics, Helen Mountford will now become the President and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation, a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions. 

“I am grateful to have worked closely with Helen over the past seven years and delighted to see her advance to take the helm at ClimateWorks, a great organization that shares our goals and mission,” said Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO, WRI. “Helen is a dear friend, and I cannot overstate the impact she has had at WRI. She has brought fresh thinking, an emphasis on partnership and collaboration, and a knack for effective outreach to her work. I am confident these attributes will greatly benefit ClimateWorks. I wish Helen great success in her new role and look forward to our partnership going forward.”  

Mountford departs WRI after an impressive tenure within the organization’s climate and economics programs. She joined WRI in 2015, following a 16-year run as Deputy Director of Environment for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She was initially hired to lead WRI’s Economics Center where she oversaw the New Climate Economy project, which has shifted the narrative around economics and climate action from one about “costs and trade-offs” to one about “investments and opportunities.” After three years, she was chosen to lead WRI’s Global Climate program as well.

As head of WRI’s Climate and Economics teams, Mountford has accomplished a great deal, always taking a people-centered approach with a heavy focus on high-caliber research, communications and engagement. She led the work of the NCE team, including four global reports. As the lead for WRI’s delegation at COP (including at COP26 in Glasgow), Mountford supported the launch of the ACT2025 Consortium, which convenes key stakeholders with the goal of uplifting the priorities and voices of vulnerable countries to guide outcomes at UN climate negotiations. Mountford has also overseen geographic expansion of WRI’s climate and economics work, engaging particularly with countries including Indonesia, Brazil, China, India, Colombia and Ethiopia. 

“It has been a great pleasure to work with the fabulous WRI team and partners around the world to help drive international climate action these last seven years, and to do so in a way that puts people and equity at the center,” said Mountford. “There is much more to do, but I am proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. I’m excited to be joining ClimateWorks Foundation to further climate action and take it to scale, supporting the philanthropic community to invest in opportunities which will deliver the biggest impact in terms of urgently addressing the climate crisis.”

WRI will begin a search for a new global climate director immediately. In the meantime, Pankaj Bhatia, Deputy Director of WRI’s Climate Program and Director of GHG Protocol, will step in as Acting Director of the Climate Program. Additionally, WRI recently announced that Vanessa Pérez-Cirera will be the next Director for Economics. 

Mountford will begin her role at ClimateWorks on January 24, 2022. Learn more about WRI’s Climate Program here and Economics Center here. View the ClimateWorks Foundation’s announcement here.

About World Resources Institute  
World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization that spans more than 60 countries, with international offices in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, regional offices in Ethiopia (for Africa) and the Netherlands (for Europe), and program offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Our more than 1,400 experts and staff turn big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. More information at www.wri.org or on Twitter @WorldResources.