Los Angeles billionaire Eli Broad announced today a long-time aide has been named the new president of the philanthropic Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.
“With each passing year, Edye and I grow increasingly thankful for the blessings we have received and more humbled by the opportunity to give back to the country and city that have been so good to us,” Broad said in a statement. “This past summer, I celebrated my 83rd birthday, and Edye celebrated her 80th. We are both in good health, but we are mindful that we will not live forever, despite our best efforts.”
Broad said he and his wife remain energized by their work seeking to improve public schools, advance scientific and medical research and make art accessible to a broad public.
“We want our philanthropy to continue after we are gone. For some time, we have looked for someone whom we trust to work with us in overseeing our philanthropic activities, someone who shares our values and priorities. And the right person has been with us the whole time,” he said.
“We are delighted to announce that we have asked Gerun Riley, who has worked with us for the past 13 years, to become president of The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. Gerun is smart, loyal and passionate about our philanthropic work.”
The foundation’s 10-member board of governors agrees that Riley has the vision and leadership to carry forward the foundation’s work, Broad said.
The announcement said Riley joined Broad in 2003 in an entry-level administrative position, then took on increasing responsibility, serving as chief of staff, vice president and most recently as senior vice president.
She has worked on a number of key initiatives and has worked closely with major grantees, including The Broad Stage, The Broad Institute, the Broad stem cell research centers at UCLA, USC and UC San Francisco, and the Broad museums at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Michigan State University, he added.
Riley has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Bowdoin College. A Connecticut native, she has lived in Los Angeles since 2002. She and her husband, television writer and producer Jason Wilborn, have two children.
