WASHINGTON – Radio Free Asia (RFA), a nonprofit news corporation that brings answers, accountability, and empowerment to populations in Asian countries under authoritarian rule, today announced Gijsbrecht de Leede as its new Chief Financial Officer. De Leede brings almost two decades of experience overseeing and managing financial departments of multi-million dollar nonprofits and media corporations. De Leede will replace Patrick Taylor Jr., RFA's founding CFO, who will retire in January 2023 after serving RFA since its incorporation in March 1996.
"Gijs is a proven leader whose experience managing the finances at mission-driven nonprofits and growing media companies will greatly benefit RFA," RFA President Bay Fang said. "He joins RFA at an historic time of growth for the company, as we put plans in place to meet the immense, present-day challenges facing free speech and free press globally and in Asia. As chief financial officer, Gijs will be an essential partner in driving the structural changes and operational expansion crucial to RFA's future.
"Also, on behalf of all of us at RFA, I must extend our heartfelt thanks to Patrick Taylor for his incredible service to RFA from its very beginning. As a founder and a steward of RFA's finances, Patrick has been integral to RFA's lasting success. We wish him all the best in his retirement."
"I am thrilled to be RFA's new chief financial officer during such an exciting time for the company," de Leede said. "RFA lifts up millions in Asia and around the world through its incisive brand of journalism. I embrace this opportunity to be part of a grand effort to maximize the impact of RFA's amazing journalists."
At RFA, de Leede will manage the overall financial affairs of the organization in addition to serving as the Treasurer to RFA's Board of Directors. He will also play a key role in RFA's expansion, which was made possible through a late-year budget increase from Congress. These plans, already underway, include launching an investigative unit to expose malfeasance and ensure accountability in Asia, creating a fact-checking unit to counter authoritarian disinformation, enhancing RFA's China services and global Mandarin brand, and expanding coverage in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as upgrading technical infrastructure.
Prior to joining RFA, de Leede was the CFO of Children's Defense Fund, where he oversaw the finance department for a $45+ million revenue. Prior to that, from July 2013 to August 2014, he worked as a Controller at Experience Works Inc., where he managed a $100 million U.S. Department of Labor Senior Community Service Employment Program. Among other roles, he has also held senior financial positions at Atlantic Media and National Geographic Society. He earned his CPA in the state of Maryland and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
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Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the United States Agency for Global Media.
