New VPs at Ford: a Promotion and 2 Outside Hires
September 8, 2014 | Read Time: 1 minute
Martín Abregú
Vice president, democracy, rights, and justice
A 14-year veteran of the Ford Foundation, Mr. Abregú began working for the foundation in Chile and oversaw all programs in the Andean region and the Southern Cone. He also led the foundation’s human-rights and governance efforts for three years before being elevated in 2013 to vice president.
Xavier de Souza Briggs
Vice president, economic opportunity and assets
New to the foundation this year, Mr. Briggs wrote a book, Moving to Opportunity: The Story of an American Experiment to Fight Ghetto Poverty, that was the National Academy of Public Administration’s book of the year in 2010. Mr. Briggs, who served as an associate director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Obama, began his career as a community planner in the South Bronx.
Hilary Pennington
Vice president, education, creativity, and free expression
Ms. Pennington, who replaces Mr. Walker in this position, co-founded Jobs for the Future, a work-force development think tank. Previously, she served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and as director of education, post-secondary success, and special initiatives at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
