Media Contact:
Peter Cleary, National Director, News Media Relations
Phone: (212) 479-7553
E-mail: pcleary@jdrf.org
JDRF Names Arnold W. Donald President
and Chief Executive Officer
Former Chairman & CEO of Merisant to head diabetes research organization
New York, NY, December 21, 2005 — The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the largest charitable funder of diabetes research in the world, announced today that it has named Arnold W. Donald as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Donald comes to JDRF from Merisant Company, a global consumer food products business, where he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. At JDRF, he replaces Peter Van Etten, who is retiring after six years as President and CEO at year-end.
"Arnold Donald has a long and successful track record in leading science and consumer-based businesses, and an even longer resume of community involvement, charitable activities, and government advocacy," said Robert D. German, Esq., Chairman of JDRF's board of directors. "He is uniquely qualified to build on the strong record that Peter Van Etten helped forge for JDRF in setting the pace and direction for research around the world leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications."
Mr. Donald founded Merisant Company—whose products include the sweeteners Equal and Canderel—as an enterprise committed to the growing global need for health, nutritional, and lifestyle products based on science and technology. He held the position of Chairman and CEO since its founding in early 2000 through June of 2003, and then served as Chairman of the Board thereafter. Previously, Mr. Donald was a senior executive at Monsanto Company in St. Louis. In more than 20 years at Monsanto, his responsibilities included overseeing that company's pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology businesses as a key member of the company's Life Sciences Leadership team, including strategic roles in corporate expansion, globalization, and technology initiatives. A highlight while President of Monsanto Agricultural Company was Mr. Donald's leading role in the first successful introduction and commercialization of Monsanto products resulting from modern plant biotechnology.
"I am thrilled to be joining an organization with the research reputation, global reach, record of innovation, and importance of mission of JDRF," Mr. Donald said. "And I am deeply committed to continuing, and accelerating, our efforts to find and bring to market cure therapeutics on behalf of the millions around the world suffering from type 1 diabetes. Thanks to the commitment of JDRF-funded scientists around the world, volunteers, donors, advocates, and staff, we are closer than ever before to a cure for this devastating disease. I am confident that, working together, we will get there."
A native of New Orleans, Mr. Donald received a BA degree from Carleton College, a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Among many honors, Mr. Donald has been named "Executive of the Year" by
Black Enterprise magazine, and one of
Fortune magazine's "50 Most Powerful Black Executives in America." He also has an extensive history of involvement in local, national, and international organizations, both professional and civic.
Mr. Van Etten has held the positions of President and CEO at JDRF since January of 2000. During his tenure, Van Etten solidified the organization's position as the world's leading charitable funder and advocate of diabetes-related research, helping JDRF become known as one of the world's most efficient and effective charities and medical research organizations. Since 2000—despite the adverse impact of September 11, 2001, and a severe financial market downturn—JDRF has funded more than $600 million in type 1 diabetes research, while maintaining efficiency ratios among the best in the U.S. Last year, JDRF launched a $1 billion global fundraising campaign titled "From Research to Reality… the Campaign to Accelerate the Cure for Diabetes," the most ambitious in its 35-year history. And over the past six years, JDRF has consistently been ranked among the top charities in the U.S. by third-party watchdogs such as the
Chronicle of Philanthropy and
Forbes magazine.
"JDRF owes a world of gratitude to Peter for helping us get to the point where a cure is no longer just a dream," Mr. German said. "We wish him well in his retirement."
JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes—a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $900 million to diabetes research worldwide. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
Additional Information for Arnold W. Donald
Professional
Merisant
2000-2005
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 2000
Monsanto Company
1977-2000
Responsibilities included Senior Vice President for growth, globalization, and technology initiatives; President of $4 billion agricultural sector business
Agri-Marketer of the Year in 1996
Education
Carleton College, BA
Washington University in St. Louis, BS in mechanical engineering
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, MBA
Professional and Civic Organizations
Appointments
President's Export Council for International Trade
Missouri Life Sciences Research Committee
U.S.-Russia Business Council
Eurasia Foundation
British-American Project
Board of Trustees
Carleton College
Dillard University
Washington University
United Way of Greater St. Louis
St. Louis Art Museum
Missouri Botanical Garden
St. Louis Science Center
Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association
Board of Directors
Carnival Corporation
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
Laclede Group
Oil-Dri Corporation of America
Russell Corporation
The Scotts Company
St. Louis Sports Commission
Personal
Married, with three children
