James Simon

James (Jim) Simon is Oceana's CEO, stepping up to the position in July 2024 after almost 21 years as the organization's President. Simon joined Oceana in 2003 and has been instrumental in establishing it as the world's leading ocean conservation organization, helping win more than 300 major policy victories. He also helped spearhead the organization's international expansion; today, Oceana campaigns in nine countries and the European Union.

As Oceana's President, Simon oversaw fundraising that grew tenfold under his leadership and supervised campaigns in multiple countries, as well as the global finance, human relations, IT, and law departments. Simon leads a team of over 250 staff members and is based in Washington, DC.

Career history

• CEO, Oceana (July 2024–present)
• President, Oceana (2003–July 2024)
• Management consultant, McKinsey & Company (immediately before joining Oceana)
• Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division

Simon is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He is an avid runner and sailor, having fallen in love with the ocean when he started sailing his first small boat, Vivere, at age 12.

What James Simon could bring to Oceana as CEO: Simon's two-decade tenure as President combined with his executive expertise in fundraising growth (tenfold expansion), global operations management, and environmental law positions him uniquely to scale Oceana's policy victories and international campaigns. His background bridging business strategy (McKinsey), legal enforcement (DOJ, NRDC), and nonprofit leadership suggests he will drive results-oriented, science-based ocean conservation initiatives while maintaining the organization's track record of institutional growth and coalition-building across coastal communities.