WFP USA Appoints Phil Karsting as Interim President and CEO

Washington, DC – World Food Program USA, the nonprofit organization that works to generate financial and in-kind resources for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and to develop policies necessary to alleviate global hunger, today announced that its Board of Directors appointed Phil Karsting, WFP USA vice president of policy, as its interim president and CEO.

“WFP’s work has never been more critical to so many across the globe,” said Karsting. “WFP USA has an incredibly strong team, committed to supporting WFP’s efforts and to making a difference in the fight against hunger. I am honored to call them colleagues and lead them through this important transition.”

Karsting previously served as the Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, as well as in several key positions on Capitol Hill, including Chief of Staff to Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), then Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies.

The Board has retained Heidrick & Struggles, a leading executive search firm, to assist in its efforts to identify a permanent president and CEO.