Leigh Morgan

Leigh Morgan is Chief Operating Officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her leadership experience spans the corporate, public, nonpro t, and philanthropy sectors with a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), governance, operations, and leading organizations through dynamic change. In her current role she is a key driver of the Gates Foundation’s transformation efforts.

Morgan’s previous leadership roles include Associate Chancellor at University of California San Francisco and Vice President and Global Head of Human Resources, Product Development at Genentech. She also served in North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt’s administration, where she helped establish the AmeriCorps National Service program. Prior to her work with the Governor, she was Associate Director of the Carolina Justice Policy Center. Morgan serves on a number of boards, including the Gates Cambridge Trust, Duke’s Fuqua Business School Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship and Washington Roundtable.

Morgan received her Master of Science in Organization Development from The American University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University. While at Duke, she was the starting point guard for the women’s basketball team.