Addison Fischer, Founder and President
Addison Fischer’s career began as a computer entrepreneur when he created his first high-tech startup company in 1973. He ultimately went on to become majority owner of RSA Data Security, which founded VeriSign. Since 1981, he has served as co-owner, with Mr. Stanley Druckenmiller, of Duquesne Capital Management until Mr. Druckenmiller’s retirement in 2010.
In addition to his business interests, Mr Fischer is passionate about preserving, for future generations, the environment, resources, health, and freedom.
He has been active in preserving rainforests indirectly through supporting NGOs, as well as on a more direct basis by organizing acquisition of sensitive primeval Costa Rican rainforest to prevent its destruction by timber and farming interests.
In 2008, he co-founded the Planet Heritage Foundation (PHF) with Cindy Mercer. PHF works to preserve the ecological and social heritage of our planet, through building and supporting strategic collaborations. The primary areas of focus are marine conservation, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.
PHF most recently launched Oceans Five with a handful of other philanthropists, including Oak Foundation, Waitt Foundation, and the Marisla Foundation. Oceans Five is a global Funder’s Collaborative with the shared goal of improving conservation of the world’s oceans with a focus on stopping overfishing and establishing marine protected areas.
Other key PHF initiatives and projects include the Electrification Coalition — an alliance of business leaders committed to promoting electric vehicles on a mass scale; the Wild Aid/WWF campaign to halt the demand of tiger parts in China with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jackie Chan; and the Mission Blue Voyage to fulfill Dr Sylvia Earle’s TED Wish, whereby 100 influential leaders gathered for a week seeking solutions to restoring the health of the oceans.
Mr. Fischer serves as a director of The Jane Goodall Institute and the East West Institute, and is on the advisory boards of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the Amazon Conservation Team and the Sylvia Earle Foundation.