The Girl Scouts of the United States made history this week when it announced that Judith Batty would be named interim CEO, making her the organization's first Black leader in its 108-year history.

“When I was young, the Girl Scouts instilled in me the courage, confidence, and character that have guided me through my life and career. It is an incredible honor to bring those lessons back full circle to help the Girl Scouts navigate this transition,” Batty said in a statement.

Batty has a long history with the organization. She was a Brownie in the Girl Scouts and served two terms on its national board.

"As families across the country contend with so much uncertainty and upheaval, I am committed to ensuring that the Girl Scouts continues to offer a shelter in the storm — a place where all our girls feel welcome, can find community, solidarity, leadership opportunities and fun, despite the challenging moment we are all collectively living through," Batty added.

For nearly 30 years, Batty worked as an executive and senior attorney at Exxon Mobil Corporation, and she previously worked for the U.S. Department of Justice.

In a press release, the company thanked former CEO Sylvia Acevedo, who announced she was stepping down from her position after four years on August 10.

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We are excited to announce longtime board member, lifelong Girl Scout, and corporate trailblazer Judith Batty as Interim CEO and the first Black CEO of GSUSA. Welcome, Judith!

A post shared by Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) on Aug 10, 2020 at 12:32pm PDT

Kathy Hannan, board chair of the Girl Scouts of the United States, said in the release that Batty will confidently execute future initiatives to improve the organization.

"As we look forward, we are confident that Judith's experience makes her uniquely qualified to help the Girl Scouts transition into our next chapter and continue to serve our enduring mission as an inclusive, supportive organization that stands ready to help every girl learn and thrive," Hannan said.

Over the next few weeks, Batty will roll up her sleeves and start on a listening tour with local staff and council leadership teams to determine how the organization can continue to improve.

More than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults are now involved with the organization, which began operating in 1912.

Sylvia-Acevedo

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