The Board of Directors of the Council of institutional Investors (CII) today announced that Amy Borrus, currently CII's deputy director, will succeed Ken Bertsch as executive director when he retires in August 2020. The board made the decision well in advance of Bertsch's retirement to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

"Amy is a highly regarded leader on corporate governance issues, and she has built strong relationships with key stakeholders" said Ash Williams, CII board chair and executive director and chief investment officer for the Florida State Board of Administration.

"With Amy at the helm in 2020, the Council is positioned to build on Ken's success in driving improved corporate governance, strong shareowner rights and vibrant, transparent and fair capital markets. The Board is fortunate that this succession affords us with a proven leader like Amy with deep experience at CII who knows our priority issues and is equipped to lead a diverse association."

"I am very pleased that Amy will succeed me," said Bertsch. "We have worked as a team, and this signals continuity as CII builds its membership, deepens and broadens its mission to serve institutional investors, and develops the excellent CII staff."

Borrus joined CII as deputy director in 2006 and served as interim executive director from June 2015 to March 2016. Prior to CII, she was a correspondent for BusinessWeek for more than two decades. As an award-winning journalist, she reported on business, finance, politics and other issues from Washington, D.C., London and Tokyo. She earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree from the London School of Economics. She serves on the boards of the CII Research and Education Fund and the Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation.

"CII is a pivotal force driving effective corporate governance standards and practices, strong shareholder rights and sensible financial regulation," Borrus said. "Under Ken's leadership, CII's influence has expanded and membership has grown. I am honored to follow in his footsteps and those of previous executive directors Ann Yerger and Sarah Teslik. And I am thrilled to work with CII's terrific members, board and talented staff."