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Boys Scouts Get New Chief Executive
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A former Scout and longtime human resources executive will be the next chief executive of Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Roger C. Mosby was announced earlier this week as the next president and CEO of the Irving, Texas-based national office, which marks the 110th anniversary of its founding this year.

Chief Scout Executive Michael B. Surbaugh retired at the end of 2019. His tenure of more than four years included historic milestones for the Boy Scouts, such as an October 2017 vote to allow girls into the Cub Scout program and reversing its transgender policy earlier that year. As recently as a year ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that BSA was considering seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the face of continuing litigation regarding sexual abuse claims.

Boy ScoutsMosby most recently operated his own consulting firm focused on executive coaching after he retired from Kinder Morgan in 2015. During almost two decades with the energy infrastructure company, he served as human resources lead and was among the original six officers. Kinder Morgan grew from 175 employees to more than 11,000 during that time, with Mosby leading “extensive change management and cultural transformation efforts,” according to BSA.

“As the BSA moves through an extraordinary time of both change and opportunity, we believe Roger’s experience as a seasoned executive, adept at guiding transformation and driving growth, will bring the right combination of strength and focus needed to steer our organization toward a promising future,” Boy Scouts of America National Chairman Jim Turley said via press release announcing the appointment.

Mosby was a Scout as a youth and served for more than 33 years as a volunteer in the Mid-America and Sam Houston Area counsels, in addition to positions with the Southern Region and National Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the World Organization of the Scout Movement. He has received the Silver Antelope Award and the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honors for volunteers at the regional and local levels, respectively. He also is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, Scoutings’ honor society.

“Roger’s expertise in leading, navigating and implementing positive organizational change will be invaluable to the BSA,” Boy Scouts of America National Commissioner Ellie Morrison said. “His skills and experience are just what we need at this time,” she said in part.

Mosby, Turley and Morrison form the BSA’s “Key 3,” the organization’s highest tier of leadership at the national level.

BSA’s national office reported total revenue of $285 million, including almost $79 million in membership dues, for 2018, according to the latest Federal Form 990 available, which was filed in November. Total assets were reported at $1.4 billion, including a commingled endowment of more than $300 million.

Monday’s announcement did not include details on the new chief scout executive’s compensation. The organization reported total compensation for Surbaugh of $1 million in 2018, including base compensation of $457,014, and “other reportable” compensation of $243,400, and $182,332 in retirement and deferred compensation.