World Animal Protection welcomes Priscilla Ma as its new U.S. Executive Director

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Feb 02, 2015, 10:15 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- World Animal Protection, formerly known as the World Society for the Protection of Animals, today announced Priscilla Ma's appointment as the new Executive Director of World Animal Protection's United States office. Ms. Ma officially assumed this role on January 26, 2015.

"Following an extensive nationwide search, the World Animal Protection U.S. Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Priscilla Ma to our New York City-based U.S. office as our new Executive Director," says Jay Bowen, U.S. Board President, World Animal Protection. "In 2015, as we tackle some of the most challenging animal welfare issues - from wildlife entertainment and trade to factory farming - we need a strong leader who has a vision for how World Animal Protection can build upon our previous successes to help even more animals around the globe."

Prior to joining World Animal Protection, Ma worked as the Executive Director of Smile Train, the world's largest cleft charity. In her role, she was responsible for worldwide marketing and fundraising activity, quadrupling Smile Train's annual income during her time there, which resulted in a ranking on Forbes' list of the 200 largest U.S. charities. She strengthened and grew the organization's treatment program year over year, and she launched new programs, expanding Smile Train's network across 85+ countries in the world. Ma also has many years' experience in other international and national not-for-profit and for-profit settings focused on strategic planning, marketing, fundraising and development.

"World Animal Protection's vision of a world without animal cruelty is inspiring," said Ma. "I look forward to building on the success of the organization to create a movement in the U.S. that will serve as a catalyst to significantly increase awareness and resources to move the world to protect even more animals."

Ma holds a Masters of Business Administration from The University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from McGill University. She is a member of the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association and on the Advisory Council of Daniel's Music Foundation.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

World Animal Protection was formerly known as WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals).

For more information on World Animal Protection, visit www.worldanimalprotection.us.org

About World Animal Protection
World Animal Protection is active in more than 50 countries. From our offices around the world, we work with businesses, governments, local partners and animal welfare organizations. We help people to find practical ways to prevent animal suffering worldwide. We collaborate with national governments, and we have formal relationships with international bodies including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Council of Europe and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). We seek national and international policy change to improve the lives of millions of animals, because animal protection is a fundamental part of a sustainable future.

SOURCE World Animal Protection