FSG, one of the world’s most experienced social impact consulting firms has announced Lauren A. Smith, MD, MPH and Greg Hills as their co-CEOs. The pair succeeds John Kania, who is stepping away from his current role as global managing director and 18 years of leadership at FSG.

John Kania remains active as a member of the board and as a managing director focused on the knowledge and practice of systems change. This announcement culminates a nine-month succession planning process conducted by FSG’s board of directors with the assistance of Spencer Stuart, a leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm.

“We are excited to have Lauren and Greg leading FSG as our organization enters its next phase,” said FSG Board Chair Jane Wales. “Since our founding in 2000, we’ve helped our clients and partners think about new ways to achieve social impact. With their complementary talents and backgrounds, Greg and Lauren are exactly the leaders we need to advance our ideas, consulting, and learning communities as the drive to create social change becomes more urgent and the challenges more complex. The combined leadership over the last 18 years of John Kania and Mark Kramer, FSG’s co-founder, has created a powerful legacy of insight and achievement for FSG. I, they and my fellow trustees believe our next team of leaders will further that legacy.”

Lauren A. Smith joined FSG in 2015 to lead FSG’s US Health practice.  Lauren’s previous leadership roles have included seven years as the medical director and then interim commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the senior strategic advisor for the 50-state, federally supported Infant Mortality Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network, the medical director of the pediatric inpatient service at Boston Medical Center, and the national medical director of the Medical Legal Partnership for Children.

“I have invested the past 25 years in serving families and communities, who have often been excluded from the best of what’s possible, with the goal of making a meaningful difference in their lives,” said Smith. “It may sound too simple, but I was drawn to FSG by this firm’s commitment to helping others achieve social impact. That really resonated with my own calling to serve and since I have joined the firm, I have seen the effect of the outstanding work our teams do with our clients. Simply put, I am motivated to lead this firm to use the full complement of our tools to move our world in a positive direction because I am passionate about our mission—social change is my life’s work.”

Greg Hills has been with FSG since 2004 and has served in a range of leadership roles. Most recently he has been leading FSG’s corporate consulting practice and before that he led FSG’s Global Development practice for 10 years. He has led more than 120 client engagements advising leading foundations, companies, and nonprofits on strategy and evaluation. Greg has published numerous influential papers and speaks regularly on topics of shared value, CSR, collective impact, and philanthropic effectiveness. He has worked professionally in nearly 20 developing countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America and his work spans economic development, agriculture, education, health, and environment.

“Fifteen years into my FSG tenure, I continue to deeply believe in FSG’s role in influencing and shaping social change through our range of activities,” said Hills. “I have seen first-hand the power of our ideas, initiatives, and consulting to change mindsets and influence behavior in big and small ways. I am excited to partner with Lauren to help steward FSG’s next chapter.”