JA Worldwide Appoints Vivek Kumar as Asia Pacific President and CEO
JA Worldwide names WWF-Singapore's Vivek Kumar as Asia Pacific president and CEO, signaling strategic expansion in youth education across a region home to 60% of the world's young people.
JA Worldwide has appointed Vivek Kumar as president and CEO of JA Asia Pacific, effective February 16, 2026. Kumar brings over 20 years of cross-sector leadership experience spanning multinational corporations, public service, and international NGOs to the nonprofit organization focused on youth education.
Cross-Sector Leader Takes Helm in Strategic Region
Kumar most recently served as CEO of WWF-Singapore from 2023 to January 2026, where he led strategic initiatives in conservation and carbon finance. Before that, he held regional leadership roles at Shell, including Head of Retail Marketing in Kuala Lumpur, and positions within Singapore's Labour Movement and advertising group WPP.
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The appointment comes at a critical time for youth education in the region. Over 60% of the world's young people live in Asia Pacific, making it central to JA Worldwide's mission of preparing youth for meaningful work and economic participation.
"With the majority of the world's youth living in this region, the opportunities and responsibilities for preparing young people for meaningful work and economic participation are immense," said Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide. "Kumar's experience leading impact-oriented transformation across sectors, as well as his commitment to youth opportunity, make him the right leader for JA Asia Pacific."
Expanding Digital Learning and Corporate Partnerships
JA Asia Pacific delivers hands-on learning experiences in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial capability to millions of young people annually. The organization operates across major economies and fast-growing communities in a region where youth workforce preparation will shape global economic trends.
The organization has developed specialized programs through corporate partnerships, including Digital Skills for Future Jobs for Microsoft and The Schools Challenge for JP Morgan. These initiatives demonstrate how nonprofit organizations are integrating corporate expertise into youth education programs.
Kumar will join JA Worldwide's Senior Leadership Team and work from the organization's regional operations base in Singapore. He will report to the global structure led by Advani, with governance oversight from JA Asia Pacific Board Chair PG Raghuraman.
Raghuraman noted that Kumar "brings a deeply thoughtful, values-driven approach to leadership and is focused on strengthening how innovation, partnerships, and emerging technologies can expand opportunities for youth."
Background in Education and Conservation Finance
Kumar attributes his commitment to education to his upbringing by educator parents in a small town. This personal background aligns with JA's mission of building youth confidence through real-world experiences.
His recent work at WWF-Singapore focused on advancing carbon finance initiatives and deepening organizational partnerships. This experience in conservation finance and sustainability brings additional expertise to youth education programs, particularly as environmental considerations become increasingly important in workforce preparation.
JA Worldwide, founded in 1919, operates in 130 countries globally, making it one of the world's largest youth-focused nongovernmental organizations. The organization is currently implementing its 2026-2028 Thrive strategic plan, which emphasizes scaling impact through innovation, emerging technologies, and strengthened partnerships with industry and government.
"The region's diversity and energy are unmatched, and I'm excited to work alongside our member organizations to expand JA's impact and support millions more young people in discovering their potential," Kumar said.
The appointment reflects a broader trend in nonprofit leadership across Asia, where organizations increasingly seek executives with combined private sector business experience and social impact expertise. Kumar's background spanning energy, marketing, labor relations, and environmental conservation represents this evolving leadership profile in the region's nonprofit sector.
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