Andrew Sharpless

Andrew Sharpless led Oceana as its CEO for 21 years, retiring in 2024. Founded in late 2001, Oceana is now the largest international conservation organization fully dedicated to protecting the ocean. Sharpless also helped found Global Fishing Watch and has served on its board since its establishment.

Before joining Oceana, Sharpless served as executive vice president of Discovery.com, the online division of Discovery Communications. Prior to that, he was senior vice president on the management team that launched RealNetworks, which pioneered online streaming media, and was vice president of the Museum of Television & Radio in New York City.

Prior, Sharpless was a management consultant at McKinsey & Co., working for a variety of corporate, non-profit, and governmental clients. As an advocate, Andy joined People for the American Way shortly after its founding, serving as deputy director of development. He was a grassroots organizer for the Center for Study of Responsive Law, and led the launch of the Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board. His volunteer work includes serving as trustee and treasurer of Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.

Sharpless holds degrees from Harvard Law School, the London School of Economics, and Harvard College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in economics and won the Knox Fellowship.