A New Chapter in JA Worldwide's Leadership
November 16, 2026
We’re excited to share a new chapter in JA Worldwide’s leadership: In January 2027, Caroline Jenner will become JA Worldwide’s next President and CEO, succeeding Asheesh Advani, who will take on an extraordinary new role at the United Nations as CEO of Generation Unlimited, a global public-private partnership anchored at UNICEF.
Caroline brings more than three decades of leadership in youth entrepreneurship and education. Caroline worked to establish JA operations across Central and Eastern Europe and co-led the founding of JA Europe in 2003, serving as CEO for 17 years. As JA Worldwide’s Chief Operating Officer, she has contributed to designing our global strategy, championed AI and digital innovation, and driven initiatives that expand our capacity to collaborate, innovate, and measure our impact worldwide.
“Caroline combines exceptional leadership experience with a deep understanding of our global network,” said Karen Reddington, Chair of the JA Worldwide Board of Governors. “She has already played a central role in shaping JA Worldwide’s future, and we have every confidence in her ability to lead its next chapter.”
We also celebrate Asheesh’s extraordinary 11-plus years of leadership as the longest-serving CEO in the history of JA Worldwide. During his tenure, JA Worldwide grew from approximately 10 million to more than 28 million youth learning experiences annually, dramatically expanded global partnerships, and transformed our OneJA culture. He championed youth agency and self-efficacy, alumni engagement, expansion to underserved communities, and a new era of research and impact measurement. Under his leadership, JA Worldwide earned recognition as one of the world's top 10 NGOs for seven consecutive years and received multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. The financial resilience of JA Worldwide and the JA network have also flourished during Asheesh’s leadership tenure, in which all six JA regions have experienced growth in revenue, the JA network has raised and deployed over $3 billion in funding, and JA Worldwide has tripled its operating revenue and net assets, while establishing its first global endowment.
“We could not be more proud of Asheesh as he takes on this senior leadership role at the United Nations Children’s Fund,” Karen added. “Over more than a decade, he has guided JA Worldwide through multiple phases: accelerating our growth, establishing a more aligned and globally respected brand, and building a team to focus on resilience, impact, and outcomes. His vision, energy, and commitment to the empowerment of JA students, staff, and alumni have transformed JA in ways that will endure for generations.”
"Leading JA Worldwide for more than a decade has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” said Asheesh. “I am deeply grateful to my extraordinary colleagues, volunteers, partners, and board members who have made our progress possible. While in this role, I have worked with incredible leaders and formed lifelong friendships. I am enormously proud of what we have built together and delighted that Caroline, a trusted colleague and exceptional leader, will guide JA Worldwide into its next chapter. As I begin my next journey, I look forward to continuing our shared work of empowering young people everywhere to realize their full potential."
As Caroline prepares to take the helm at JA Worldwide, our ambition remains bold: 100 million youth learning experiences per year by 2050, with measurable impact on young people and their communities.
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and excited to build on the extraordinary work of Asheesh and our colleagues worldwide,” said Caroline. “Our 2050 ambition challenges us to think boldly about how we scale our reach, deepen our impact, and empower young people to build thriving communities.”
Please join us in congratulating Caroline and Asheesh as they begin these exciting new chapters. [insert Kudoboard links]