Oceana Announces New Leadership Appointments
Dustin Cranor to Spearhead Global Marketing and Communications, Beth Lowell to Lead Campaigns in the United States, and Jacqueline Savitz to Serve as Chief Policy Officer
Press Release Date: July 6, 2022
Location: Washington, DC
Contact:
Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter
Dustin Cranor (left), Beth Lowell (center), Jacqueline Savitz (right) Credit: OCEANA
Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation, announced new leadership appointments to its Executive Committee this week. Dustin Cranor, APR will now serve as Oceana’s Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications, Beth Lowell will lead as the organization’s Vice President for the United States, and Jacqueline Savitz will serve as the group’s Chief Policy Officer.
All longtime employees of Oceana, Cranor, Lowell, and Savitz have been instrumental in the success of the organization and its ability to deliver policy victories for our oceans.
“These three leaders have proven that they know how to win big policy victories that make our oceans more abundant and biodiverse,” said Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless. “I am delighted to promote them to roles that will enhance their ability to deliver the ocean conservation victories we need to feed a hungry planet, help protect our climate, and preserve the abundance and biodiversity of the world’s oceans.”
Cranor first joined the organization as a communications manager in 2007, where he led communications activities for Oceana’s award-winning campaign to stop government subsidies that lead to overfishing. Since then, he has helped advance Oceana’s campaign goals by increasing visibility and public awareness of ocean issues around the globe. In 2016, Cranor spearheaded the award-winning public launch of Global Fishing Watch, the first free, global view of commercial fishing activity around the world. He is also responsible for coining the organization’s tagline, “Save the Oceans, Feed the World.” Most recently, Cranor served as Oceana’s senior director of communications for North America, where he played a critical role in the success of the organization’s campaigns, including those to expose and stop seafood mislabeling, prevent the expansion of dirty and dangerous offshore drilling, and reduce the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic. At the helm of the organization’s global marketing and communications department, Cranor is ultimately responsible for promoting Oceana’s impact around the world.
“I’m humbled and honored for this opportunity to lead Oceana’s global marketing and communications department — a talented group of individuals who have helped achieve many victories for our oceans,” said Cranor. “After 15 amazing years at Oceana, I am just as excited and passionate about ocean conservation as I was when I started. I look forward to leading the charge to leverage marketing and communications to advance our international campaigns to increase safeguards for ocean wildlife, habitat, and our global marine ecosystems.”
Lowell originally joined Oceana in 2005 as an ocean wildlife advocate. Since then, she has held many roles at Oceana, including federal policy director and director of the organization’s campaign to stop illegal fishing and seafood fraud. Among her many achievements, Lowell secured the first-ever traceability requirements for imported seafood species most at-risk of illegal fishing and mislabeling. She also worked with Members of Congress to close a loophole to end shark finning in U.S. waters. Most recently, Lowell served as Oceana’s deputy vice president for U.S. campaigns. As the leader of Oceana’s work in the United States, Lowell will lead teams of scientists, communications specialists, legal experts, campaigners, and advocates to stop the expansion of offshore drilling, ban the trade of shark fins, save vulnerable species from extinction like the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic, and deter illegal fishing and increase transparency of commercial fishing at sea.
“I’m excited for this new opportunity to lead Oceana’s work in the United States. Over the past 17 years, I have campaigned for protections for ocean wildlife, responsibly managed fisheries, and an end to seafood fraud and illegal fishing. I’ve led teams who have protected our coasts from the threat of offshore drilling and defended key conservation laws. I look forward to working with our amazing staff in the United States to build on our past campaign successes to secure more victories for our oceans and the communities who depend upon them,” said Lowell.
Savitz was one of the first staff members to join Oceana after it was founded in 2001. She led Oceana’s first campaign, which convinced Royal Caribbean, the second largest cruise ship company in the world at that time, to install advanced wastewater treatment technology on its ships. Savitz has held several positions at Oceana over the last 20 years, including senior scientist, senior campaign director, and vice president for United States. During that time, she designed and led Oceana’s campaigns to stop the expansion of offshore drilling, eliminate the use of mercury in chlorine production, and stop the production of unnecessary single-use plastic. Most recently, Savitz served as Oceana’s chief policy officer for North America, overseeing Oceana’s work in the United States, Mexico, and Belize. As Oceana’s chief policy officer, she will now oversee the organization’s work in these countries and in the European Union. Savitz is also a co-founder of Global Fishing Watch, and currently serves on its board of directors.
“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Dustin and Beth since they first started at Oceana. With proven track records of delivering results, they are fundamental to Oceana’s success. I am confident that our new appointments will strengthen Oceana and our critically important, worldwide campaigns for the future,” said Savitz.
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Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.
