News

New leadership for the European investing for impact community

EVPA, the European investing for impact network, has appointed Leslie Johnston, CEO of Laudes Foundation, to become the organisation’s new Chair at its Annual General Meeting on 15 June.

Leslie Johnston

Leslie Johnston, current EVPA Board member, replaces Steven Serneels, who was the Chair of EVPA during the last two years.

Leslie Johnston said: “I am thrilled to step up to this role and hope that my experience across strategic philanthropy, social enterprise and business will further EVPA’s mission. I am particularly inspired by the potential to harness the power of business for good, and I look forward to supporting EVPA, along with its board, in strengthening the impact ecosystem across Europe.”

Steven Serneels, outgoing Chair of EVPA, said: “I am delighted to hand over the baton to Leslie Johnston. Her vision and experience will enable us to bring the investing for impact community to the next level. Leslie will bring the needed leadership to enable EVPA to grow and achieve lasting change for people and the planet. I also take the opportunity to thank the EVPA community for the unique sharing of knowledge and experience over the years.”

Roberta Bosurgi, EVPA CEO, said: “I look forward to working with Leslie and the Board to lead EVPA on a journey to achieve positive, lasting social and environmental change at scale. I am confident that together, we will reach our ambition of mobilising resources across the board and shaping policies that will enable this shift.”

Leslie Johnston launched Laudes Foundation as its first Chief Executive Officer in January 2020, bringing over 20 years of management experience across business and philanthropy. At Laudes Foundation, she is leading the development and executions of its initial vision, strategy and operating model. Previously, she joined C&A Foundation as its first Executive Director in August 2013 where she led the development of the foundation’s strategy to make fashion a force for good. In addition to EVPA, Leslie serves on the boards of Fashion for Good, the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy, and Built by Nature.

For more information, contact:

Dragan Stojanovski, EVPA Head of Marketing and Communications

Email: dstojanovski(at)evpa.ngo

Freyja Moorhead, Laudes Foundation External Relations Senior Manager

Email: f.moorhead(at)laudesfoundation.org

About EVPA

EVPA is a unique network at the intersection of finance and purpose, driven by knowledge and focused on impact. We aim to increase prosperity and social progress for all, fix inequalities and injustices and preserve the planet. We rally people, capital, knowledge and data to catalyse, innovate and scale impact. EVPA brings together a diverse group of capital providers (impact funds, foundations, corporate social investors, banks, public funders) and social innovators of all sorts – from household names to emerging new players.