Nik Dehejia Tapped as Executive Vice-President of Oakland Zoo -- Conservation Society of California

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Oakland Zoo has announced the promotion of Nik Dehejia to Executive Vice-President, where he will continue to lead Finance and Operations and assume new responsibilities in the leadership of Zoo initiatives with President and CEO, Dr. Joel Parrott.

Nik Dehejia joined Oakland Zoo in the fall of 2006 and most recently served as the Zoo's CFO and VP of Business Affairs. In those roles, he led the planning and approvals for the Zoo's transformational California Trail expansion, a three-stage, 72M dollar project that included a new LEED-certified Veterinary Hospital, a Biodiversity Center focused on restoring wildlife release, and the 56-acre California Trail, highlighting California's native species.

"Nik's efforts, over the past thirteen years, have been vital in helping guide the Zoo through significant growth. He's developed a track record for success and leadership," said Dr. Joel Parrott.

In his new position as Executive Vice-President, Nik will assume new responsibilities for education, fundraising, marketing, and other aspects of park operations. "We have an incredible team at the Zoo and I look forward to collaborating with those internally and the Oakland and broader Bay Area community in fulfilling our mission of connecting people to nature and inspiring them in taking action for wildlife," said Nik Dehejia.

Nik started his career in international and environmental public policy at the World Resources Institute and the World Bank in Washington D.C. and in corporate responsibility at Business for Social Responsibility in San Francisco. He later held various roles in marketing and licensing at Levi Strauss & Co. Nik holds an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley.

ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA:
Oakland Zoo, home to more than 750 native and exotic animals, is managed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC); a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community to take action for wildlife locally and globally. With over 25 conservation partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums.

SOURCE Oakland Zoo