After 26 years as President & CEO of the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, James B. “Jim” Osborne, Sr., EdD has announced plans to retire in June 2016. Dr. Osborne announced the news through a letter to the Board in March, citing both the growth and stability of the Foundation during his tenure. The early announcement will allow for an orderly transition and will give the newly appointed successor, Foundation COO Ian Mercier, time to prepare for the new role.

Hired as Vice President for Institutional Relations and Executive Director of the Foundation in late 1989, Dr. Osborne oversaw the growth of the Foundation’s assets under management from $7 million to over $200 million. In 2001, he was named the first President & CEO of the Foundation, and has guided the organization effectively since. Current Board Chair Dr. Sam Richwine recognizes the significance of Osborne’s legacy at the Foundation. “Jim has helped build our endowment, managed a first-class organization and established enduring relationships with donors and friends of the Medical College of Georgia that will last many years beyond his retirement. We thank him for his many accomplishments”

The responsibility of managing the day-to-day operations of the Foundation now moves to Ian Mercier, who himself is no stranger to the institution. “Ian has over 15 years’ experience managing various facets of the Foundation, and has been a vital part of this organization since his hiring in 1999,” says Richwine. Mercier, who has served as Chief Operating Officer at the Foundation since 2013, is currently a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University, having received a master’s degree in public administration from Villanova University and a bachelor in information technology.

The board plans to honor Dr. Osborne in the coming months and recognize his many accomplishments. “It has been my honor to lead the people and activities of the Foundation for the past 26 years,” Osborne said. “I leave this organization in the hands of a talented staff and board who are some of the best people I have ever worked with. The Foundation is in very good order and will continue to support the needs of the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta University.