Charles Simonyi to assume post in 2008
James D. Wolfensohn will retire as chairman of the board of trustees of the Institute for Advanced Study in October after 21 years of service to the institution.
He will be succeeded for one year by board Vice-Chairman Martin L. Leibowitz, who will serve as interim chairman before Charles Simonyi, current president of the corporation, officially begins as chairman in October 2008.
Dr. Simonyi, a former Microsoft executive, recently returned from the International Space Station as the fifth "space tourist."
Mr. Wolfensohn will become chairman emeritus effective October of this year.
"We are delighted that Marty Leibowitz has agreed to follow Jim as chairman in this time of transition," said Peter Goddard, director of the institute.Marty is greatly admired for his strong support of the institute and his unstinting efforts on its behalf."
Mr. Wolfensohn, former president of The World Bank and current chairman of Wolfensohn & Company LLC, has been a trustee of the institute since 1979 and chairman of the board since 1986.
"His vision has guided our growth and evolution as an institution, ensuring the maintenance of the highest standards of excellence and the relevance of the Institute’s work," Mr. Goddard said.
Mr. Wolfensohn is credited with helping to oversee the growth of the institute’s endowment, which has more than quadrupled since his appointment as chairman.
With former Institute Director (1991-2003) and current School of Mathematics Professor Phillip Griffiths, he worked to initiate the Millennium Science Initiative, a program that aims to create and nurture world-class science and scientific talent in the developing world.
The institute’s lecture and performance hall, Wolfensohn Hall, was dedicated in 1993 in honor of Mr. Wolfensohn, and is a reflection of both his long-standing commitment to the Institute, and his own personal love of music, according to the institute.
Trustee Martin L. Leibowitz, managing director at Morgan Stanley and vice chairman of the institute board, will serve as chairman of the board from October 2007 until Dr. Simonyi assumes his new role in October 2008.
Dr. Leibowitz has been a trustee since 1995, and currently serves on the Finance Committee and Nominating Committee of the board, as well as on the Endowment Campaign Task Force. He was chairman of the search committee for Director Goddard, and has actively supported the School of Mathematics and institute programs such as PCMI.
Dr. Leibowitz, who served as vice chairman and chief investment officer of TIAA-CREF from 1995 to 2004, has a doctorate in mathematics and is the author of books on finance.
Mr. Simonyi, who will succeed Mr. Wolfensohn, is president and chief executive officer of Intentional Software Corp.
Dr. Simonyi has been a trustee of the institute since 1997 and has served as president of the corporation since 2003.
Dr. Simonyi’s involvement with the institute began in 1996, and over the years he has supported a range of academic activities, including endowing the Charles Simonyi Professorship in Theoretical Physics, currently held by physicist Edward Witten of the institute’s School of Natural Sciences. Dr. Simonyi has also provided substantial funding for the institute’s School of Mathematics. Simonyi Hall, which houses the School of Mathematics, was dedicated in May 2002.
In 2005, the institute received an unrestricted cash gift of $25 million from the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, which was the largest donation since the founding of the institute.
In his two decades with Microsoft, Dr. Simonyi led the development of such well-known programs as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Multiplan and others.
On April 7, Dr. Simonyi, who was born in Hungary, fulfilled a lifelong dream and became the fifth civilian to travel into space when he launched on a Soyuz spacecraft. He spent 12 days aboard the International Space Station and returned to Earth on April 21.