Leading Indian American conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan is set to lead The New York Climate Exchange as it endeavours to accelerate climate solutions through research, education, workforce development, innovation and community partnership.
As its next CEO, Sanjayan, who has served as CEO at Conservation International, will guide The Exchange as it advances its vision for a transformational climate campus on Governors Island in New York Harbor, according to a media release.
Drawing on its 48 partners and the global reach of New York City, The Exchange is developing a state-of-the-art climate campus on Governors Island that will bring together climate scientists, educators, entrepreneurs and changemakers under one roof — sparking the collaborations and breakthrough ideas needed to build a sustainable future.
Sanjayan will lead the organization’s next chapter, translating work on Governors Island into solutions that can be adopted by cities and communities around the world.
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“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. M. Sanjayan to The Exchange and look forward to partnering with him to realize the extraordinary promise of The Exchange,” said Andrea Goldsmith, chair of The Exchange board and president of Stony Brook University, The Exchange’s anchor institution.
“Sanjayan is an exceptional leader, deeply knowledgeable scientist, and outstanding communicator with a clear and compelling vision for the future of The Exchange. He brings to the role an impressive track record leading transformational growth and meaningful success as CEO of Conservation International.
“With Sanjayan’s remarkable experience and expertise, with our impactful work to date, and with strong partnerships across academia, industry, government, and the community, The Exchange is incredibly well-positioned to deliver impactful climate solutions for New York, our country, and the world.”
A leader at the intersection of science and storytelling, Sanjayan brings a rare combination of scientific rigor and public engagement. As CEO of Conservation International from 2017 to 2025, he led two landmark capital campaigns totaling $2.4 billion, expanded the organization’s global presence to 1,800 staff across 35 countries, and built partnerships with major companies including Apple, Microsoft, Mastercard, and Procter & Gamble.
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A conservation biologist by training, he has also helped bring climate and nature stories to global audiences through award-winning documentaries and broadcasts with PBS and BBC. In 2024, he was named to TIME’s inaugural 100 Climate list.
“Climate change is both a crisis and an opportunity for humanity,” Sanjayan said. “It’s a privilege to lead The New York Climate Exchange at this consequential and defining moment for people and the planet. I cannot think of a more powerful platform from which to accelerate solutions that the world urgently needs.”
Once open, Governors Island campus will become a renowned destination where hundreds of students, faculty, researchers, and climate-curious visitors can be found immersed in “semester abroad” style academic courses, engaged in cutting-edge research opportunities, pursuing job training for the green economy, and attending world-class convenings and public programming.
This vision is made possible in part by a major capital commitment from the City of New York, a $100 million pledge from the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International, and a $50 million commitment from Bloomberg Philanthropies, according to the release.