San Francisco AIDS Foundation Names New Executive Director
Officials for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation on Monday announced that Mark Cloutier -- current executive director of Continuum, a "highly regarded" San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS care group -- on June 1 will become the foundation's executive director, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Cloutier -- who also was named president of SFAF's sister organization Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, which focuses on treatment in developing countries -- will replace Pat Christen, who resigned in July 2004 after 15 years as executive director. Cloutier, who has worked on health policy issues for most of his career, will earn a salary of $170,000 to head SFAF, which has an annual budget of $24 million.
Christen was paid $190,000 in 2003, which was deemed "excessive" by some critics, according to the Chronicle. SFAF Board Member Lonnie Payne -- who headed the search committee and "praised" Cloutier for his "intellect, broad background and practical experience" -- said the salary was competitive and "appropriate for an organization of this size," the Chronicle reports (Russell, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/22).
SFAF Board Chair Mark McCormick said, "After a nationwide search in which many candidates were considered, Mark Cloutier clearly emerged as the strongest leader and visionary for this unique position." He added, "He has a keen understanding of local, national and global HIV issues, has successfully managed an HIV nonprofit organization, and he has a fundamental understanding of our organizations' missions, which are the perfect attributes for this position" (SFAF release, 3/22).
Cloutier said that, even though SFAF's finances are "very stable," it is "vital" for the group to "gain more influence" in Washington, D.C., during an "era of decreased federal funding" for HIV/AIDS programs and services, according to the Chronicle. He added that another challenge will be "to re-energize the public about the threat HIV poses, both locally and globally" (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/22).