CEO Suzanne Russo Transitions to Board, Bart Bohn Named Interim CEO, Mitch Jacobson Named Board Chair

AUSTIN, TX —  After nearly five years as Pecan Street’s CEO, Suzanne Russo has transitioned to the organization’s board of directors. Bart Bohn, a partner at venture capital firm ATP and a long-time collaborator with Pecan Street, will serve as interim CEO while the board of directors conducts a search for a permanent chief executive. 

Mitch Jacobson, executive director of the Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin and member of Pecan Street’s board of directors since 2018, was elected board chair and will replace Jim Marston. 

Russo joined Pecan Street in 2010 and served in several positions, including chief of staff and chief operating officer, before being named CEO in 2018. The leadership transition will occur February 3, 2023. 

“No one has more institutional and industry knowledge than Suzanne,” said new board chair Mitch Jacobson. ”So though we are sad she is leaving the CEO position, we are grateful we can maintain her leadership and insight on the board. She diversified our funding, expanded our national research network, and deftly guided the organization through a tumultuous pandemic.”

Bohn has extensive experience guiding entrepreneurial ventures. He’s helped launch two non-profit startups that focused on underserved communities and teaches entrepreneurial finance at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. At ATP, he focuses on deep tech innovations and programs to address climate change, healthcare, and the future of work. He partnered with the City of Austin to co-found the Green Workforce Accelerator to address legacy environmental and social injustices. 

Bohn’s work with Pecan Street includes strategy and program management on clean energy, regenerative agriculture, water efficiency, and startup projects. Most recently, he led an industry working group that charted a path to apply artificial intelligence/machine learning to soil carbon-sequestration processes and supported the organization’s participation in the McGovern Foundation’s Climate Data Accelerator program to stress test the leading soil carbon data model. 

“The transition is already underway,” Jacobson said, “Bart already knows the team and mission, and he and Suzanne have worked very closely. I have full faith that Bart will be ready on Day One.”

“I’m honored to follow Suzanne’s successful tenure as CEO and guide Pecan Street’s ambitious 2023 agenda,” Bohn said. “Our research network is expanding into new geographies, our expertise is broadening into new climate sectors like soil carbon and AI, and our team is producing unmatched data analysis that pushes climate research and innovation forward.”

“My enthusiasm for Pecan Street’s mission and future has never been stronger,” said Suzanne Russo. “I’m excited to transition to this new role and look forward to working with the board to guide the organization’s strategy and growth.”

About Pecan Street Inc.
Pecan Street is internationally renowned for its pioneering research model which integrates communities, technology developers, data scientists and advocates to accelerate the pace of innovation for climate and conservation solutions. Pecan Street applies a high-impact research and development approach to high-potential, cost-effective climate solutions that are impeded by a lack of data and technology readiness. Pecan Street is a 501(c)(3) applied research and commercialization institute.

Contact
Colin Rowan, Pecan Street Inc., media@pecanstreet.org, 512-222-9603