Rockefeller Foundation Adds Govind Iyer to Board of Trustees

NEW YORK | June 18, 2025 — The Rockefeller Foundation is pleased to announce that Mr. Govind Iyer, global business executive and philanthropic leader, will serve on its Board of Trustees. Bringing over four decades of experience, he joins as The Rockefeller Foundation enters its 112th year of “promoting the well-being of humanity,” the philanthropic organization’s mission since 1913. Mr. Iyer, who was a partner at the advisory firm Egon Zehnder International until retirement in 2022, has joined The Rockefeller Foundation’s Board in a voluntary capacity.

“Mr. Govind Iyer is a respected business leader who is strongly committed to expanding philanthropy’s reach and impact, in India and around the world,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “I’m delighted to welcome him to the Board of Trustees and look forward to the insights he will bring, especially as The Rockefeller Foundation continues our work in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Based in Mumbai, India, Mr. Iyer currently serves on the Board of Directors at Infosys Limited, a global leader in next-generation digital services and recognized as the top three most valuable IT services brands globally. He is also an Independent Director at Karmayogi Bharat, the Government of India’s capacity-building initiative for civil service officials. As part of his passion and commitment to philanthropy, Mr. Iyer also serves as a Founding Board Member and Chairperson at Social Ventures Partners, a pan-India collaborative philanthropy organization; as a member of the Board of Social Ventures Partners (International), a global philanthropic network; on Advisory Boards at The Convergence Foundation and Project Mumbai; and as Director of the Board of Indian Corporate Volunteering Association. In addition, Mr. Iyer is a LivingMyPromise (LMP) signatory, which is a community of like-minded Indians who believe in pledging 50% or more of their net worth to society across causes of their choice.

“I am humbled and thrilled to serve an organization that for more than 112 years has worked to build a brighter future for communities all around the world. I often tell people: Don’t give back, give forward and at The Rockefeller Foundation I hope to work towards making the World a better place,” said Mr. Iyer.

At Egon Zehnder, Mr. Iyer advised Family Businesses and Corporations on CEO succession and Board Governance before retiring three years ago. He also held marketing positions at Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, and the Kraft Heinz Company.

“Having worked for more than four decades at some of the world’s most innovative and successful companies, Govind has put extraordinary energy and passion into philanthropic pursuits,” said James Stavridis, U.S. Navy Admiral (retired) and Chair of The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees. “We have already benefited greatly from his expertise, and we warmly welcome him to the Foundation’s Board.”

Mr. Iyer also received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India, and an MBA from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, where he remains an active alumnus.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.