Subject: [big campaign] Sierra Club Announces New Executive Director
From: David Willett <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked], Green Group Communications Team <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:54:18 -0500
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

Apologies for cross-posting

Contact: Orli Cotel (415) 977-5627
January 20th, 2010

Sierra Club Announces New Executive Director 

(San Francisco). Michael Brune, a respected leader whose strategic vision 
and hard-charging charm have driven a number of important environmental 
victories, has been named executive director of the Sierra Club, the 
nation’s oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental 
organization. 

Brune, 38, takes leadership as the club, founded in 1892 by iconic 
conservationist John Muir, plunges headlong into the most important 
environmental battle of the 21st century, notching up dramatic successes 
against greenhouse gas-polluters and helping create the clean energy 
future that is the best defense against potentially catastrophic climate 
disruption. 

Brune’s alignment with this ambitious mission is reflected in his 
critically acclaimed book, "Coming Clean – Breaking America’s Addiction to 
Oil and Coal". Published by Sierra Club Books in 2008, the volume details 
a plan for a new green economy that will create well-paying jobs, promote 
environmental justice and bolster national security. 

"The grassroots volunteers and staff of the Sierra Club have won some of 
the country’s most significant environmental battles" said Brune. "I 
believe the Sierra Club’s best work lies ahead, and I’m excited to be a 
part of it." 

Allison Chin, president of the organization’s board of directors, said: 
"We look forward to the innovative thinking and inspired leadership 
Michael brings to the Sierra Club at a pivotal moment. The board was 
particularly impressed by Michael’s credentials working with volunteers 
and his proven talent for bending the will of powerful adversaries without 
breaking the bonds of civility that keep them at the table." 

Brune holds degrees in Economics and Finance from West Chester University 
in Pennsylvania, and comes to the Sierra Club from the Rainforest Action 
Network, where in his seven years as executive director he earned a 
reputation for using bold but respectful confrontation to encourage 
corporate responsibility. At age 26, he led a historic consumer-education 
campaign that ultimately persuaded Home Depot to stop selling wood from 
endangered forests. Time magazine called that victory "the top 
environmental story of 1999." Under Brune’s leadership, Rainforest Action 
Network went on to win more than a dozen other key commitments from 
America's largest corporations, including Citi, Goldman Sachs, Bank of 
America, Kinko’s, Boise, and Lowe’s. 

Like most Sierra Club activists, Brune has his roots in the outdoors. He 
learned to walk at a campground in Maine, and says he grasped the 
importance of protecting the natural world as a teenager, when hypodermic 
needles and chemical pollution washed up on the shore near his New Jersey 
home, closing beaches and keeping him from the waves he’d grown up body 
surfing. He and his wife, Mary, attribute their ongoing passion for 
environmental activism in part to concern that their outdoors-loving 
children, Olivia, five and Sebastian, one, inherit a healthy world. He is 
particularly interested in promoting programs that link the Club’s 
traditional protection of wild places, including National Parks, to 
urgently needed climate change solutions. 

As the Sierra Club’s 6th executive director, Brune assumes a position 
formerly held by such legendary environmentalists as David Brower and 
Michael McCloskey. He succeeds Carl Pope, who, since taking leadership of 
the Club in 1992, has steadily increased its political clout and 
intellectual heft while building an influential base of more than 1.4 
million members and supporters in all 50 states. Pope will maintain his 
37-year tenure with the Club in the role of executive chairman, continuing 
to help shape Club strategy and collaborating with Brune, Chin and chapter 
leaders to connect the Club with policy makers, the media, other 
non-profits and donors. 

"I am thrilled that someone with Mike’s leadership, passion and creativity 
is taking up the torch to lead the Sierra Club as it faces the next 
generation of environmental challenges.  The Club is fortunate to have him 
as our next leader," said Carl Pope.

"I am humbled and inspired to follow Carl Pope in this position," said 
Brune. "In no small measure because of Carl, the Sierra Club, with its 
extraordinary history of success and commitment to grassroots-driven 
programs that promote positive and pragmatic solutions, is uniquely 
positioned to lead our country to the clean energy future it needs and 
deserves." 

For a full biography, photos, blog and video links and other press 
information, please go to: www.sierraclub.org/ed

To set up interviews, or for additional materials, please contact Orli 
Cotel, (415) 977-5627

View a web version of this email.

 

Contact: Orli Cotel (415) 977-5627
January 20th, 2010
Sierra Club Announces New Executive Director 
(San Francisco). Michael Brune, a respected leader whose strategic vision 
and hard-charging charm have driven a number of important environmental 
victories, has been named executive director of the Sierra Club, the 
nation’s oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental 
organization. 

Brune, 38, takes leadership as the club, founded in 1892 by iconic 
conservationist John Muir, plunges headlong into the most important 
environmental battle of the 21st century, notching up dramatic successes 
against greenhouse gas-polluters and helping create the clean energy 
future that is the best defense against potentially catastrophic climate 
disruption. 

Brune’s alignment with this ambitious mission is reflected in his 
critically acclaimed book, "Coming Clean – Breaking America’s Addiction to 
Oil and Coal". Published by Sierra Club Books in 2008, the volume details 
a plan for a new green economy that will create well-paying jobs, promote 
environmental justice and bolster national security. 

"The grassroots volunteers and staff of the Sierra Club have won some of 
the country’s most significant environmental battles" said Brune. "I 
believe the Sierra Club’s best work lies ahead, and I’m excited to be a 
part of it." 

Allison Chin, president of the organization’s board of directors, said: 
"We look forward to the innovative thinking and inspired leadership 
Michael brings to the Sierra Club at a pivotal moment. The board was 
particularly impressed by Michael’s credentials working with volunteers 
and his proven talent for bending the will of powerful adversaries without 
breaking the bonds of civility that keep them at the table." 

Brune holds degrees in Economics and Finance from West Chester University 
in Pennsylvania, and comes to the Sierra Club from the Rainforest Action 
Network, where in his seven years as executive director he earned a 
reputation for using bold but respectful confrontation to encourage 
corporate responsibility. At age 26, he led a historic consumer-education 
campaign that ultimately persuaded Home Depot to stop selling wood from 
endangered forests. Time magazine called that victory "the top 
environmental story of 1999." Under Brune’s leadership, Rainforest Action 
Network went on to win more than a dozen other key commitments from 
America's largest corporations, including Citi, Goldman Sachs, Bank of 
America, Kinko’s, Boise, and Lowe’s. 

Like most Sierra Club activists, Brune has his roots in the outdoors. He 
learned to walk at a campground in Maine, and says he grasped the 
importance of protecting the natural world as a teenager, when hypodermic 
needles and chemical pollution washed up on the shore near his New Jersey 
home, closing beaches and keeping him from the waves he’d grown up body 
surfing. He and his wife, Mary, attribute their ongoing passion for 
environmental activism in part to concern that their outdoors-loving 
children, Olivia, five and Sebastian, one, inherit a healthy world. He is 
particularly interested in promoting programs that link the Club’s 
traditional protection of wild places, including National Parks, to 
urgently needed climate change solutions. 

As the Sierra Club’s 6th executive director, Brune assumes a position 
formerly held by such legendary environmentalists as David Brower and 
Michael McCloskey. He succeeds Carl Pope, who, since taking leadership of 
the Club in 1992, has steadily increased its political clout and 
intellectual heft while building an influential base of more than 1.4 
million members and supporters in all 50 states. Pope will maintain his 
37-year tenure with the Club in the role of executive chairman, continuing 
to help shape Club strategy and collaborating with Brune, Chin and chapter 
leaders to connect the Club with policy makers, the media, other 
non-profits and donors. 

"I am thrilled that someone with Mike’s leadership, passion and creativity 
is taking up the torch to lead the Sierra Club as it faces the next 
generation of environmental challenges.  The Club is fortunate to have him 
as our next leader," said Carl Pope.

"I am humbled and inspired to follow Carl Pope in this position," said 
Brune. "In no small measure because of Carl, the Sierra Club, with its 
extraordinary history of success and commitment to grassroots-driven 
programs that promote positive and pragmatic solutions, is uniquely 
positioned to lead our country to the clean energy future it needs and 
deserves." 

For a full biography, photos, blog and video links and other press 
information, please go to: www.sierraclub.org/ed
To set up interviews, or for additional materials, please contact Orli 
Cotel, (415) 977-5627

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