Meredith Sumpter Named FairVote President and CEO
March 22, 2024 – Meredith Sumpter has been named President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. Sumpter’s appointment was unanimously approved by the FairVote Board, and she will begin on April 1.
Sumpter is an experienced nonprofit and private-sector leader who most recently served as CEO and President of the Board of both the Council for Inclusive Capitalism and the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism. She holds advisory positions at New America and Harvard University and has a track record of working on US policy issues at local, state and national levels. Originally from Alaska, Sumpter served as an aide to Sen. Lisa Murkowski early in her career.
“I am thrilled to join FairVote as President and CEO,” said Meredith Sumpter, FairVote’s newly appointed President and CEO. “My work across the public and private sectors has been about creating value that benefits all people. I believe deeply in our republic and in what Americans can do when we feel engaged and empowered. I am excited to work with FairVote’s dedicated staff to advance meaningful reforms for a functional and representative democracy that delivers for the American people.”
“We are beyond excited to name Meredith Sumpter as FairVote’s new CEO,” said Danielle Allen, FairVote Board Chair. “Meredith has a remarkable record of impact and success. She’s a true leader of people and will be a powerful ambassador for FairVote and the election reform movement.”
In addition to Sumpter’s appointment, FairVote announced that Acting CEO Lan Nguyen, who served in that role starting in June 2023, will depart the organization on April 1. Nguyen will take a new role as Chief Operating Officer of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
“While we will sorely miss Lan, we are proud that she has the opportunity to lean into her most deeply held commitments and concerns,” said Danielle Allen. “I cannot thank longtime CEO Rob Richie and interim CEO Lan Nguyen enough for their vision and leadership. FairVote and our movement for better elections are in such a strong position thanks to their great work.”
“Meredith Sumpter is exactly the kind of person we hoped the Board would find at the beginning of its CEO search, and I’m incredibly optimistic about what FairVote can achieve under her leadership,” said Rob Richie, FairVote co-founder and Senior Advisor. “I look forward to supporting Meredith in this challenging yet incredibly rewarding role, as she leads our team at this moment of promise and peril for our republic. I also want to thank Lan Nguyen, who has been such an incredibly effective and thoughtful partner in bringing change to FairVote over the past five years. We are a stronger, better-streamlined, and more resilient organization because of Lan. I couldn’t be happier for her as she takes on an exciting new opportunity that connects so deeply to her remarkable life story.”
Prior to leading Inclusive Capitalism, Sumpter was Head of Research & Strategy at global geopolitical risk firm Eurasia Group, and served her country at the US Embassy in Beijing, where she advised two US ambassadors. Sumpter has led cross-sector initiatives with market impact from executive to local levels, including with Just Transition. She lives in Virginia and enjoys parenting four children with her husband Ryan.
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FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. We research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.
