Golden LEAF Names Ted Lord As Next President, CEO

ROCKY MOUNT – The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors has named Ted Lord as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer.

Lord, who joined Golden LEAF in 2005 and currently serves as senior vice president and general counsel, will succeed retiring President and CEO Scott T. Hamilton.

The Board announced the selection Wednesday following an executive search.

In his current role, Lord oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking, helps develop funding priorities and programs, and provides leadership for the organization’s 24-member staff.

He has also worked with the N.C. Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and local economic development organizations.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Golden LEAF Foundation and build on its strong legacy of investing in rural North Carolina,” Lord said.

Before joining Golden LEAF, Lord practiced law in Greensboro, served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge James A. Beaty Jr. and was a fellow at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Golden LEAF Board Chairman Brian Raynor said Lord’s experience with the Foundation and economic development were factors in his selection.

“Ted brings more than 20 years of institutional knowledge, extensive experience in economic development, sound judgment, and the strategic vision needed to guide Golden LEAF into its next chapter,” Raynor said.

Golden LEAF was established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s proceeds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers.

The Foundation says it has awarded $1.5 billion to 2,412 projects across North Carolina since its creation. Its grants have supported projects involving job creation, workforce development, agriculture and community development.

Hamilton has led Golden LEAF since 2019.

“Having worked closely with Ted, I have seen firsthand his dedication to Golden LEAF’s mission and his ability to bring people together to advance opportunities for rural North Carolina,” Hamilton said.

The search was conducted by a committee of Golden LEAF board members with assistance from The Nautical Group, a Raleigh-based executive search firm.

Lord is a Winston-Salem native. He earned his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College.

He also serves as vice chairman of the Rocky Mount Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and vice chairman of the South Eastern North Carolina Community Development Corporation Board of Directors. Lord and his wife live in Nash County.