Press Releases | Dec, 5 2017
AUSTIN, TEXAS---The Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation today announced that Mark K. Updegrove will return to the organization as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2018.
Current Executive Director Amy Barbee will be promoted to Vice President.
LBJ Foundation Chairman Larry Temple will continue as chairman, but he will transfer the title of chief executive officer to Mark K. Updegrove.
LBJ Foundation President Elizabeth Christian will transfer the title of President, becoming a Vice Chairman of the foundation, the same title held by former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes and former Ambassador to Sweden Lyndon Olson.
"These changes are designed to provide a long-range governance structure that will assure a continuation of the dynamic growth of the foundation’s programming, its national and local leadership among all Presidential Foundations, and a resolve to support further advances at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the LBJ Presidential Library," said Tom Johnson, former chairman of the foundation and chairman of the board's nominating committee.
"We are so fortunate to recruit Mark Updegrove as the fulltime President and CEO of the foundation. He brought distinction in his role as LBJ Library Director, as an accomplished author, as a public speaker, and as a leader of the historic Civil Rights Summit, 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War Summit, and as the inspiration for An Evening With series of speakers at the Library," LBJ Foundation Chairman Larry Temple said.
"Mark and his wife Amy have established deep roots in the Austin community where both of them are involved in a variety of leadership positions," Temple said.
"The position of President and chief executive officer will become a fulltime position effective March 1, 2018. Previous foundation leaders Frank Erwin, Tom Johnson, Larry Temple and Elizabeth Christian served as unpaid volunteers since the founding of the LBJ Foundation in 1970."
"We are especially pleased to promote Amy Barbee to the position of Vice President," Temple said. "Amy has done an exceptional job as executive director. This promotion recognizes her splendid past leadership and Amy's unique future role where she will continue to be involved in all activities of the foundation."
In January 2018, Updegrove will step down from his current role as chief executive officer of the National Medal of Honor Museum, to be built on Charleston Harbor in South Carolina.
"I could not be more excited to be back in the world of LBJ," Updegrove said. "On March 1, 2018, after resolving a case of early stage prostate cancer, I look forward to leading the 50th anniversary events recognizing LBJ's momentous last full year in office, 1968."
