International Business Leader Ricardo J. Cisneros Joins Oceana's Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceana is pleased to announce that Ricardo J. Cisneros has joined its expanding board of directors.

"I'm a diver and underwater photographer, so I've seen first hand what's happened to our beautiful oceans," said Cisneros. "I am committed to helping them return to health and abundance, and so I'm thrilled to be a part of this highly effective and results-oriented organization that has won so many important victories for our oceans."

Cisneros serves as chairman of Cisneros Corporation, one of the largest media, entertainment, telecommunications and consumer products organizations in the world. With his expertise, Cisneros has steered the corporation's growth into over 100 Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries. Based in Latin America, Cisneros has developed Cisneros Corporation and its related enterprises to promote the overall economic, social and cultural advancement of Latin America.

In addition to his business endeavors, Cisneros finds time to give back to the community and environment. He serves as a director of Fundacion Wonken, a philanthropic foundation he founded which is committed to preserve the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela, ensuring a prosperous future for both the environment and people who depend on it.

"Ricardo Cisneros brings to Oceana not only the experience of leading a successful and very complicated corporation, but also a deep understanding of the need to protect our oceans," said Oceana's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sharpless. "This remarkable combination of exceptional business smarts and a passion for protecting our seas makes Ricardo a valuable addition to Oceana's diverse board of directors."

The board of directors, a group of accomplished individuals from all over the world, is Oceana's governing body. The directors are responsible for establishing organizational strategy, budgets and the direction of Oceana's campaigns to save the world's oceans. In his new role, Cisneros will join members of the board, including actors Ted Danson and Sam Waterston; internationally respected fisheries scientist Dr. Daniel Pauly; marine biologist and trustee of the Oak Foundation, Dr. Kristian Parker; Board President and Industry Entertainment co-founder, Keith Addis; and documentary filmmaker Susan Rockefeller -- among others from the business, entertainment and philanthropic realms.

Since 2001, Oceana has taken a science-based approach to winning policy changes around the world. To date, Oceana has protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean habitat and countless sea creatures like dolphins, sharks, and endangered sea turtles. Most recently, Oceana negotiated the prohibition of all destructive trawling in Belize, helped pass the 2010 U.S. Shark Conservation Act and was a crucial player in defeating the construction of two coal-fired power plants in Northern Chile.

A full description of Oceana's Board of Directors and their affiliations can be found at: http://na.oceana.org/en/about-us/leadership/board-of-directors.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, they have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 500,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit http://www.oceana.org.

Contact: Jessica Wiseman
[email protected]
202-467-1394

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SOURCE Oceana