Global Environment Facility: immediate departure of CEO Carlos M. Rodriguez ; Claude Gascon as interim

The Global Environment Facility Council announced the departure of CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodriguez "following his notification that he will step down from GEF leadership effective immediately", on 19/12/2025. He had held this position since 2020.

The GEF Council will appoint a new CEO and Chairperson to "lead the organization into its ninth replenishment period next year". In the meantime, Claude Gascon, a Canadian-US national, who serves as the Director of Strategy and Operations, will act as interim CEO and Chairperson, "while a search is undertaken to fill the position on a permanent basis".

"From 2010 to 2015, Claude Gascon served as Chief Science Officer and Executive VP at the National fish and Wildlife Foundation, where he played a key role in advancing the organization’s mission", said the GEF.

"Prior to that, he held various positions at Conservation International between 1999 and 2010, culminating in his role as Executive VP for Field Programs. He also worked for several decades in the Amazon and other tropical countries on biodiversity conservation".

"The GEF-9…