The Rockefeller Foundation Names Maria Santos Valentin as New General Counsel
NEW YORK, March 18, 2019 —The Rockefeller Foundation today announced that Maria Santos Valentin has been named General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the Foundation. Valentin comes to the foundation from the Soros Economic Development Fund – part of the Open Society Foundations – where she served as Secretary and General Counsel. In her new role, Ms. Valentin will oversee and advise the Foundation on a broad range of legal matters.
Ms. Valentin has worked with the Open Society Institute since its inception in 1998. During her tenure, she has structured and negotiated more than 40 innovative program-related investments around the world, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, India, Africa and the Middle East, which totaled over $200 million. The investments focused on increasing financial inclusion around the world and improving the lives of smallholder farmers, refugees and migrants. Ms. Valentin also served as Deputy General Counsel for the Open Society Institute, also part of the Open Society Foundations.
“Maria brings a cogent combination of global legal experience and governance knowledge,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation. “Her experience structuring impact investments to have the maximum social outcome for poor and vulnerable communities will be an invaluable asset to The Rockefeller Foundation as we continue to identify opportunities to drive large-scale human impact through solutions in data, technology and innovative finance. I’m confident that Maria will be an exceptional advisor and am thrilled to welcome her to our leadership team...