Throughout his career, Leonard has designed and implemented effective financial transactions and strategies and prepared organizations for complex risk scenarios. As Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the Nature Conservancy, he drove the design and implementation of a $130 million impact investment, leveraging carbon offsets, sustainable timbering, mineral royalties, and recreational leases, enabling the conservation of 254,000 acres of forest in Appalachia. Prior to his role at the Nature Conservancy, Leonard served as the CFO, COO, and Interim President of Verizon Federal Systems. Under his leadership that line of business grew its annual revenues by over 40%.
He is a frequent speaker on topics around treasury management, enterprise resource planning, enterprise risk assessment, and addressing the interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss through innovative impact financing strategies. His work for was profiled in CFO Intelligence Magazine.
A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Leonard holds a BSE in Computer Science and Engineering, an MSEE in Computer and Information Systems from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering, and an MBA in Finance and Decision Sciences from Wharton Graduate School of Business.