The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has announced that Tim F. Wray, an investor and philanthropist, has been elected Chair of the ASPCA’s Board of Directors, succeeding attorney Mary Jo White in that position. Ms. White, former U.S. Attorney and current partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, will remain a member of the Board.
Wray, who has been a member of the ASPCA's Board since 2009, is a partner at Family Endowment Partners, LP, a registered investment advisory firm that provides financial management and advisory services mainly to high-net-worth private clients. Wray oversees the firm's investments in private companies and special situations.
"Tim's deep interest in philanthropy coupled with his expertise in leading companies with complex operations make him a tremendous asset to the ASPCA," said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. "We are delighted that he will serve as Chair, bringing his considerable leadership skills to the cause of animal welfare. We are very appreciative of Mary Jo's dedication as our Chair for the past year, and we are grateful that she will continue to serve as a member of the Board."
"From a very young age, my family instilled in me the importance and responsibility of service to the public good," said Wray. "To serve an organization that is on the front line of defending those who cannot defend themselves is one of life's most rewarding efforts. I am committed to advancing the ASPCA's critical mission of preventing cruelty to animals and to supporting the staff that is directly responsible for improving the lives of millions of animals each year. To work alongside Mary Jo White—whose guidance over the last three years has been invaluable—and our passionate board has been, and will continue to be, a humbling privilege. I look forward to building upon the ASPCA's successes to the betterment of all."
The Board also announced the election of James L. Nederlander as First Vice-Chair of the Board, Frederick Tanne as Second Vice-Chair, Fredrik G. Gradin as Treasurer and Sally Spooner as Secretary.
Prior to joining Family Endowment Partners, Wray served as the interim CFO for Creditex Group Inc., an inter-dealer brokerage firm which he helped transform from a niche player to the largest provider of electronic trading in its industry. Before Creditex, Wray worked at Questor Management Company. With over $1.1 billion of committed capital, Questor executed leveraged buyout acquisitions of distressed middle market companies. Earlier in his career, he was President and CEO of U.S. Plastics Inc., where he led the successful restructuring and turnaround of the company.
Wray received a Master's degree as a Sloan Fellow from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Princeton University. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was a member of the U.S. National Rowing Team for five World Championships.