release

The Presidential Precinct Announces New President & CEO

Written By Drew Precious

August 30, 2023

Toyosi Ogunseye, Program Alumna and 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, to lead the organization’s next chapter.

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Today, the Presidential Precinct is proud to announce Toyosi Ogunseye as its new President & CEO. Ogunseye is only the second to take this role at the Presidential Precinct, following nearly a decade of transformational leadership from Founding Director Neal Piper.

Few individuals are closer to the mission of the Presidential Precinct than Ogunseye; she began her tenure with the organization as a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow and has engaged consistently as a program alumna since.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to lead such an impactful organization 9 years after I first walked through its doors,” said Ogunseye. “I look forward to innovative collaborations with our staff, Board, program alumni, and community partners in Williamsburg and Charlottesville. Working together, we will expand and elevate tools and resources that have distinguished the Presidential Precinct as a transformative public diplomacy organization.”

A woman seated in a chair with a plain white background — Toyosi Ogunseye is President and CEO of the Presidential Precinct

Ogunseye has two decades of leadership experience in journalism, most recently serving as a Senior News Editor for News and Commissioning at the BBC. She began her tenure with the BBC as Head of Language Services for West Africa. Prior to joining BBC, Ogunseye was the first female editor in the 50-year history of Punch Newspaper, Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper. In addition, she recently concluded her term as Vice President of the World Editors Forum and Board member of the World Association of News Publishers.

Her appointment follows a competitive international search campaign led by the Precinct’s Executive Committee in partnership with Lincoln Leadership.

“Toyosi’s experience combined with partnerships and resources that we have established over the past ten years will guarantee a bright future at the Precinct,” said Jim Murray, the organization’s Founder and Board Chair. “We began this search process by looking far and wide; little did we know that after six-months of exhaustive outreach and networking, one of our own would be stepping in to lead. I am grateful for Toyosi’s longstanding commitment to the Precinct. We have much to look forward to.”

The Presidential Precinct

The Presidential Precinct engages and inspires emerging leaders to address the most pressing challenges in their countries. Over 1,300 leaders from more than 162 countries have joined the Presidential Precinct’s programs and returned home to invest their knowledge, expertise, and networks to transform the lives of millions worldwide. The Precinct sits at the center of a four-member consortium, consisting of two premier universities – the University of Virginia and William & Mary – and two internationally renowned historic sites – James Madison’s Montpelier and James Monroe’s Highland.