About Me

Bob Forrester's career in the global philanthropy industry spans 50 years. He took over as Chief Executive Officer of Newman's Own, Inc. and its parent, Newman's Own Foundation, from Paul Newman in September 2008. Bob Forrester was tasked with leading this unusual business/philanthropic company from its 26-year history of operation under its much regarded, inspirational Founder to a future where it could thrive as an impactful independent organization rooted in its founding beliefs.

For six years, Bob Forrester was CEO of Newman's Own, during which time the company's profits climbed at a compound annual growth rate of 10%, compared to low single digits for industry competitors. The parent corporation's CEO, Bob Forrester, served for 10.5 years. During that time, Newman's Own donated more than $286 million in revenues to charitable causes, outpacing the previous 26-year total by more than 10%.

Bob Forrester developed leadership initiatives in support of encouraging a global practice of philanthropy, access to good nutrition, children with life-limiting conditions, veterans and their families, and the empowerment of people to overcome barriers that stand in the way of their potential as President of Newman's Own Foundation. Bob's commitment to a world of fairness, social justice, opportunity, hope, and dignity for all people, as well as care for the earth we all share, guided his leadership in the industry. Newman's Own faced a unique existential problem as one of the numerous challenges of moving a sophisticated corporation from its Founder's era. By the middle of November 2018, Newman's Own had been forced to dissolve due to an unintended consequence of an obsolete tax law.

After nine years of personal effort and as many as 200 related meetings in a single year, Bob Forrester was successful in having bipartisan legislation approved and signed into law in February 2018, establishing a new type of American business model known as "The Philanthropic Enterprise." Newman's Own was able to stay in business as a result of this groundbreaking legislation, which also allowed dozens of other social entrepreneurs to start firms on the promise of donating 100% of their revenues. From 1980 through 2008, Bob Forrester served as the Founder and CEO of Payne Forrester, LLC, a well acclaimed international consulting firm that provides planning, management, fundraising, communications, and governance advice services to non-profit organizations. During Bob Forrester's term as CEO, the firm served over 500 clients.