Dennis Mulhaupt Leaves the BBG Board
Washington, DC – BBG Board member Dennis Mulhaupt today informed the White House and his colleagues that he is leaving the Board.
Mulhaupt had been serving as alternate presiding governor, chair of the BBG Governance Committee and chair of the board of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
“Dennis Mulhaupt has been tireless and selfless in his service to the BBG,” said the Board’s presiding governor, Michael Lynton. “He passionately believes in the mission of U.S. international broadcasting, has approached his role with the utmost integrity, and has earned widespread respect in Washington, Prague and beyond. We will miss him greatly as a colleague on the Board, but would welcome his continued contribution to our work.”
Mulhaupt is the founder and managing director of Commonwealth Partners, Inc., a firm that provides advisory services to philanthropic institutions and families. He began his career working in an investment bank in London and subsequently established the West Coast international political and economic risk advisory department at a major U.S. financial services company.
After 15 years in various corporate roles, he turned full-time to the non-profit sector. Before founding Commonwealth Partners, he served as executive vice president at KCET in Los Angeles, the West Coast flagship public broadcaster. Other roles in higher education administration have included positions as Vice President at Claremont McKenna College; Associate Vice President at Stanford University; and Senior Associate Dean in the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences at the University of Southern California, where he also taught undergraduate courses in international relations.
Like his fellow appointed governors, Mulhaupt was appointed to the board on July 2, 2010 to a term expiring on August 13, 2011. By law, any member whose term has expired may serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified. His departure leaves the Board with five members, including Secretary of State John Kerry, who serves as an ex-officio member.
Here is the letter that Mulhaupt sent to President Barack Obama:
April 9, 2013
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I write to submit my resignation from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) effective today.
Over my tenure I, along with some of my board colleagues, have consistently advocated for necessary and far-reaching reform of the governance structure and organization of U. S. international broadcasting (USIB). My belief in the importance and need for these reforms has only grown stronger the longer I have served. I hope that the administration and Congress will address soon the urgent issues facing USIB and the BBG, the components of which do such vital work advancing freedom and human rights in many countries throughout the world.
I am beyond grateful for having been given the opportunity to serve our country through my role on the BBG. In addition, I want to express my thanks to you and Senator McConnell for your confidence in indicating to me I would be re-nominated for an additional term.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the thousands of men and women of USIB throughout the world who do such important and all too often dangerous work in support of a free press in more than 60 countries around the world.
I am honored to have served with them.
Respectfully,
Dennis Mulhaupt