Adam Putnam
Ducks Unlimited has appointed a new CEO to head the nonprofit organization, which aims to conserve North America’s waterfowl habitats.
Adam Putnam has been tapped to head the organization and will assume his role April 1.
“I joined Ducks Unlimited when I was 16 and have a lifelong appreciation of the conservation work the organization accomplishes,” Putnam said in a press release. “It’s humbling to be chosen as DU’s CEO, and as a lifelong hunter, angler and conservationist, I look forward to building on our record of success.”
Putnam is joining Ducks Unlimited after serving as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. He held that post from 2011 to 2019. He represented Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011.
Putnam is taking over the role of CEO from Dale Hall, who is officially retiring on June 30. He will be helping the leadership transition in the interim.
“As the outgoing CEO, it’s definitely a bittersweet day,” Hall said. “But I am going to retire from my position at DU knowing the organization is in very capable hands thanks to the hard work and diligence of our volunteer search committee. They’ve truly picked a winner in Adam and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both Adam and Ducks Unlimited.”
Putnam graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in food and resource economics. He served as the E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Florida in 2010.
“From the outset, the CEO search committee here at Ducks Unlimited wanted to find a unique balance of conservation, policy and agriculture background in the new CEO candidate,” said DU President Rogers Hoyt. “In Adam, we feel we have hit on all three. Not to mention he’s an approachable, passionate and visionary person, so Adam was the perfect fit.”
Putnam and his family plan to move to Memphis in the coming months. Ducks Unlimited is headquartered in Memphis.
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Image courtesy of Ducks Unlimited
