Announcing our new Executive Director

A message from our new Executive Director, Colin Saravanamuttoo:

“I am excited to join World Animal Protection! Living and working around the world, I have seen first-hand the strong inter-dependence of people and animals. As a supporter and animal lover, I’ve seen World Animal Protection leading the way in protecting animals in the wild, on farms, in communities and in disasters.

One of the things that excites me the most about World Animal Protection is our approach to working with governments, businesses, communities and global organisations, including the UN, to make large-scale change for animals. I’ve led teams in the corporate and charitable sector, and I believe that finding solutions together is the most effective way to tackle the biggest challenges animals face.

Another reason I’m so excited to join World Animal Protection is the energy and momentum you are creating for animals. We are on the verge of some amazing changes for animals and with your continued support, I know we can move the world to protect animals together.”

Me and Colombo. If we aren’t together, I am spending quality time with my wife, skiing, cycling or playing soccer.

Q&A with Colin:

Where did you work before coming here? 

Before joining World Animal Protection, I was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP)​, a 75-year-old national not-for-profit organisation representing 4,500 ski patrollers across Canada. I was brought in to the CSP to reinvent the organisation, make it relevant and put it on a path to a sustainable future. Before the CSP, I worked for the Canadian Medical Association in a marketing leadership role. Before that I worked in the technology industry for Cognos, a leading global software provider, now part of IBM. 

Why did you apply for the job? 

I was ready for a new challenge! After almost seven years in my previous role, it was time for a change, and as a lifelong animal lover, I was excited to read about the leadership opportunity here. I was also very interested in the international nature of the organization. Much of my career has been in global settings and I was keen to have that as part of my next role. The important work of World Animal Protection really resonated with me. 

What has been the best moment of your career to date?

It’s hard to narrow it down to a single career moment, so I would note a few career highlights. One highlight has been working with smart, passionate, hard-working and talented people from around the world, many of whom have become great friends. Developing and working with high-performance teams where the team is stronger than the sum of its individual parts has been especially motivating and rewarding. 

In terms of a specific role, I am most proud of the work to revitalise the Canadian Ski Patrol. We made fundamental changes to the organisation, its culture, its brand and its service delivery, all in a collaborative and deliberate way. We brought people along on a journey and ultimately turned around a 20-year decline in the organisation, growing for my final two years. 

What’s the most important lesson you have received in a job? 

I was fortunate to work with some outstanding–even legendary–business leaders earlier in my career. While I’ve received lots of great advice over the years, nothing compared with watching these inspiring leaders first-hand as they built trust and motivated teams through authentic communication, a focus on the individual and a compelling vision for the future. For me, this experience informed my approach to leadership which is focused on humility, humanity, sensitivity and common sense. 

How do you like to spend your free time? Do you have any pets?

Outside my professional life, I like to spend time with my wife and our 10-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, Colombo. I am a passionate soccer player, skier and cyclist.

Colin joined us on Monday, September 16. Please join us in welcoming Colin to the World Animal Protection team!