World Vision names Canadian as new international president

MISSISSAUGA - Kevin Jenkins, managing director of Canadian investment firm TriWest Capital Partners, and vice-chair of the board of directors of World Vision Canada, has been appointed the new president and chief executive officer of World Vision International (WVI), the world's largest Christian humanitarian aid organization. The appointment is effective October 1, the first day of WVI's next fiscal year.

At its semi-annual meeting in Kenya last week, the WVI Board unanimously voted for Jenkins to succeed Dean Hirsch, who announced last year that he was stepping down as president.

A relief, development and advocacy organization, World Vision operates in 98 countries with 40,000 staff and an annual budget of US$2.5 billion. Its community-based development work focuses on children while its relief arm responds to major disasters, including drought, floods, earthquakes and displacement and suffering as a result of man-made conflict. World Vision serves more than 100 million people annually.

Jenkins becomes the seventh president of World Vision International since its founding in 1950 by Bob Pierce, an evangelist and humanitarian who sought help for Korean war orphans.

Fellow Canadian Denis St-Amour, the WVI board chair and member of the presidential search committee, announced Jenkins' appointment. He praised him as a committed Christian, a creative thinker, and a visionary leader with a strong heart for children and the poor.

Calling the presidential search process exhaustive, St-Amour said the committee considered more than 300 candidates from six continents and 40 countries. "But, in the end," he said, "with God's guidance, we came to Kevin."

Hirsch, the outgoing president, said, "It's very clear to me that Kevin wants to make a difference for the children of the world."

"Kevin shares our deep concern for children and the poor. He's been an active supporter, volunteer and board member, always generously giving his time, influence and expertise," said Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada. "As a Canadian, I'm especially proud that Kevin is the first president of our international organization to come from Canada-and that he brings so much leadership experience to this important role. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with him." Toycen continues in his role as president of World Vision Canada.

Jenkins said he was deeply honoured and humbled to be chosen to lead World Vision. "I have a great sense of calling to bring sustainable change and dignity to the world's poorest children," he said, "and this is possible because of World Vision's strong reputation and the effectiveness of its people."

Jenkins, 52, is a managing director of TriWest Capital Partners, a Calgary-based independent private equity firm. From 1996 to 2003, he was president and chief executive officer of The Westaim Corporation, a technology research and commercial product company. From 1985 to 1996, he held senior executive positions with Canadian Airlines, including president and chief executive officer.

Jenkins has been an active member of the World Vision Canada board for the past nine years, leading three significant initiatives with major donors related to HIV and AIDS in Zambia, microfinance in Ethiopia and schooling in Mali and Zambia. He served on the board of Young Life of Canada from 1992 to 2008, including as board chair from 2004 to 2008.

Jenkins earned a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1985 and a law degree from the University of Alberta in 1980.

He and his wife, Helen, have three adult children and live in Calgary.