November 30, 2024

ICS Announces New Chairman and Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the International Churchill Society (ICS) is pleased to announce that it has elected Jean-Paul Montupet to serve as the new Chairman and that Lee Pollock has been appointed Interim Executive Director. “We are so fortunate to have two such seasoned veterans to captain the ship as we pass through the milestone of my great-grandfather’s 150th birthday,” said ICS President Randolph Churchill.

Mr. Montupet is Senior Adviser to Cornell Capital and has served as Vice-Chairman of ICS since 2016. He was previously Executive Vice President of Emerson Electric, a Fortune 500 global industrial company and Chairman of PartnerRe. A longtime Churchillian, his knowledge of the organization and his extensive business experience make him a natural choice to preside over the board.

Mr. Pollock, a frequent speaker and writer on Churchill topics and is well known to members and friends of ICS, having served as the Society’s Executive Director from 2010 to 2016. Together, Jean-Paul and Lee will oversee the process of finding a new permanent Executive Director through an international search to begin early in 2025.

The ICS board has also announced the establishment of three new committees and their chairmen. Bob Kelly, retired Chairman and CEO of BNY Mellon and currently a Director of S&P Global, will head the Finance Committee, which will oversee the Society’s operating budget. Vince Benedetto, founder, President and CEO of Bold Gold Media Group, will chair the Communications Committee, which has responsibility for ICS publications (the Churchill Bulletin and Finest Hour), as well as social media and advertising. Finally, Jim Drury, President of the Churchill Society of Tennessee, now heads the Conference Committee, which will have responsibility for the annual ICS conference as well as other events.

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2025 International Churchill Conference

The Society’s existing Governance and Directorship and its Development Committees remain under the Chairmanship of Harold Oakley and Robert Muehlhauser.

In addition, Derek Greenwell has become Chairman of the International Churchill Society U.K. A lifelong Churchillian and supporter of Churchill activities in the U.K., Mr. Greenwell is Director and Secretary at FT Construction Group (Holdings) Ltd. in Darlington, England and previously enjoyed a long career as a solicitor.