Rana Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
Since taking the helm at Chimp Haven in 2017, Rana has overseen the retirement of more than 300 former research chimpanzees, including leadership of the sanctuaryβs $20 million expansion campaign, which ensured more than 100 additional chimpanzees were given the opportunity to retire to sanctuary. At Chimp Haven, she leads a highly-engaged, 65-person staff team who provide outstanding personalized care at the worldβs largest chimpanzee sanctuary. She has served as Chair of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance since 2021, where she helped lead the effort to raise more than $4 million to rehome 42 chimpanzees at the closed Wildlife Waystation in Los Angeles to qualified sanctuaries throughout the country. Through her work with the chimps, Rana continues a lifelong passion for animals and more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising expertise, including roles as National Director of Development and Marketing for the Petco Foundation and Chief Development Officer at Best Friends Animal Society. When sheβs not living the chimp life at Chimp Haven, Rana can be found spending time with her family or planning her next travel adventure.
Favorite Chimp: Hope β βI love her unique look and that her alopecia doesn’t slow her down for a second. She’s got a sweet, welcoming personality and she’s a great friend to all of the chimps in her group.”