All Donations Matched
Pierre Ferrari, former President and CEO of Heifer International, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 29. Pierre, who led Heifer International from 2010 to 2022, was a passionate champion of our mission to end hunger and poverty, and his impact on our organization—and the global movement to end hunger and poverty—was profound and enduring.
"We are saddened by the loss of a remarkable leader and a steadfast advocate for social justice," said Surita Sandosham, current President and CEO of Heifer International. "Pierre believed deeply in the power of people to transform their own futures, and his legacy lives on in the millions of families whose lives were touched during his tenure."
Prior to joining Heifer, Pierre had a successful career in the private sector, after which he devoted his skills and passion to work in the social impact sector with organizations such as CARE and the Small Enterprise Assistance Fund.
A visionary leader, Pierre brought his bold ambition and a keen business acumen to Heifer at a time of significant transformation for the organization. Under his leadership, Heifer evolved from a broad collection of many small projects to more-focused, large-scale, community-driven programs designed for lasting impact. He pushed Heifer teams to be more strategic, more focused, and more accountable to the smallholder farmers we serve.
Some of the innovations launched on Pierre’s watch included Heifer’s move into the impact investing area - currently represented by the work of our Heifer Impact Capital unit – the adoption of a living income goal for Heifer programs and the launch of our Caring for the Earth approach, which emphasizes the promotion of regenerative and climate-smart farming practices to ensure long-term sustainability of natural resources that are critical to farmer’s livelihoods.
Heifer Board member Randi Hedin remarked at the time of his retirement: "Over the last 12 years, Pierre and the team have transformed Heifer into a leading international development organization... focused on innovation and entrepreneurship." That transformation continues to shape our work and our mission.
Pierre was also remarkable for his evident humanity. He listened deeply, challenged thoughtfully, and cared fiercely about people and the planet. As Heifer’s CEO, Pierre gave his trust, his talent, and his whole heart. He believed in the vision we shared of a world where smallholder farmers are able to thrive and be more resilient, and he worked relentlessly to make this a reality.
In honor of Pierre’s journey—and in the spirit of peace and awakening that he deeply valued—we offer the Amitabha Buddha mantra: Om Ami Dewa Hrih. This sacred prayer invokes infinite light and compassion, offering both a blessing for his next journey and a reminder for us to continue the work with courage, clarity, and heart.
