Freedom House Executive Board Selects Free Speech Champion and Global Advocate Suzanne Nossel as President and CEO

WASHINGTON—The Freedom House Executive Board, co-chaired by Jane Harman and Wendell Wilkie II, today announced that after a national search, it has selected Suzanne Nossel to serve as President and CEO of Freedom House, an international, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to expand and protect freedom. all over the world.

“We are honored and excited to have Suzanne join Freedom House,” said Harman, a former nine-time congresswoman from California. “She has had an exceptional career, including leadership positions in government and beyond, and is a battle-tested leader known for her vision, determination and willingness to stand up for her principles.”

“Suzanne is a proven leader with a track record of launching innovative initiatives, bringing deep insight and conviction to her work, and mobilizing resources to accomplish critical missions,” said Wilkie, co-chair of Freedom House. “The Executive Board is pleased to work with her to chart the course of Freedom House at a time of increasing challenges to the cause of freedom around the world.”

Nossel most recently served as CEO of PEN America for 11 years. Under Nossel’s leadership, the organization, which celebrates and defends free speech around the world, has significantly expanded its programs, staff, budget and influence. Her responsibilities with international human rights organizations include Chief Operating Officer of Human Rights Watch and Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. Nossel also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations and Deputy U.S. Ambassador for UN Governance and Reform at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Nossel – author Don’t be afraid to speak up: Protecting free speech for all And Is freedom of speech under threat? Her full biography is here.

“I am deeply honored to lead an organization with a distinguished track record, Freedom House, at the forefront of the fight against tyranny in all its forms,” Nossel said. “I have been a huge fan of Freedom House and am now excited to join this outstanding team and help rally the defense of freedom at a time of enormous and mounting pressure.”

Harman and Wilkie, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, would like to thank Nicole Bibbins Sedaka, who has served as Freedom House’s interim president since May of this year and will serve until Nossel’s arrival. The entire Council is deeply grateful for her strong and steady leadership and strategic thinking and looks forward to her continued outstanding contributions to Freedom House and its mission.

Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world in which all are free. It informs the world about threats to freedom, mobilizes global action, and provides direct support to defenders of democracy. The legendary nonprofit organization was founded in 1941 to mobilize politicians and the broader isolationist American public to fight against Nazi Germany and the fascist threat to American security and values. In the decades since, Freedom House has established itself through its advocacy, programs, and research as America’s leading nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting and defending freedom around the world.