Ploughshares Fund Welcomes New Executive Director, Philip Yun

September 15, 2011

San Francisco – Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation, announced today the appointment of Philip Yun as its new Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, effective October 17, 2011. Based in San Francisco, Yun will oversee the organization’s operations, financial management, fundraising and grantmaking. Known for his expertise in Asia-related political and security issues, Yun joins Ploughshares Fund from Asia Foundation, an international development non-profit committed to a peaceful, prosperous and open Asia-Pacific region.

“I’m thrilled that Philip has agreed to join the leadership of Ploughshares Fund,” said Joe Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund. “Not only is he tremendously talented and expert in the field, Philip is joining at a moment that is ripe with possibilities to impact global and domestic nuclear policy. I look forward to partnering closely with Philip to develop and promote the vision and strategy of Ploughshares Fund.”

Yun will bring an unusual combination of philanthropic experience and policy expertise to the organization, having worked extensively in academia, business, nonprofits and government. Prior to joining Asia Foundation, he was a Pantech Scholar in Korean Studies at Stanford University, co-editing a book entitled North Korea: 2005 and Beyond (2006). He has also held senior level positions at H&Q Asia Pacific, a private equity firm focused on Asia; and on high-level diplomatic teams at the U.S. Department of State where he served as a close advisor to William Perry and Wendy Sherman – U.S. Coordinators for North Korea Policy during the Clinton Administration.

Additionally, Yun has practiced law in the United States and Korea, and served as a national staffer on the Mondale, Dukakis and Clinton presidential campaigns. He has been a regular commentator on television and radio and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of Ploughshares Fund’s leadership team,” said Yun. “As a board member, I’ve been consistently impressed with its unique venture capital model of philanthropy. Through smart strategy, careful grantmaking and policy expertise, Ploughshares Fund leverages each dollar for maximum impact.”

Yun’s tenure will continue a tradition of leadership on nuclear policy that began in 1981, when Ploughshares Fund was founded in San Francisco by Sally Lilienthal. Since that time, Ploughshares Fund has led and supported a community of experts, advocates and analysts to implement smart strategies to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. In 2010, Ploughshares Fund led the successful campaign of over fifty non-governmental organizations to win the Senate approval of the New START treaty.

“Philip has been a Ploughshares Board member for the past eight years and thus adds board and organization knowledge to his many other fine qualities to the position of executive director; we could not be more pleased,” said Roger Hale, Chair of the Ploughshares Fund board of directors.

Yun succeeds Naila Bolus, who left Ploughshares Fund this week to become the CEO of Jumpstart, an early education organization based in Boston. Joe Cirincione will continue to serve as Ploughshares Fund President.