Rotary International News — 10 January 2011
“Rotary is fortunate to have attracted a candidate with John Hewko’s proven ability and extensive international experience,” said RI President Ray Klinginsmith. “His leadership will be an important asset for Rotary in the next few years.”
Hewko is a former vice president of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and a past partner with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie, where he focused on Eastern European nations. He currently works with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as a researcher and writer concentrating on international development issues.
Hewko was selected for the general secretary position after an exhaustive yearlong search process conducted with the assistance of Korn/Ferry International, one of the world’s largest international executive recruiting firms. In addition to the RI Board search committee, chaired by RI Director John T. Blount, the search process included input from the RI Board of Directors and the directors-elect, The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Rotary general management team.
But it was Hewko’s father, Lubomyr, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Clarkston, Michigan, USA, who alerted his son to the opportunity after seeing the position advertised in The Rotarian magazine.
Hewko holds a JD from Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in literature from Oxford University, and a bachelor’s degree in government and Soviet studies from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.
A former Rotarian, Hewko was a charter member of the first Rotary club in Kiev, Ukraine. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Margarita, who is a native of Argentina, and their daughter.