Sesame Workshop has named Brett Robinson Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Finance, Technology, and Facilities. In his role, Robinson will be responsible for advising on all fiscal matters, including annual and long-term planning/forecasting, accounting, budgeting, risk management, compliance, and analysis. He will also oversee the IT and Engineering divisions and play a key role in ensuring that Sesame Workshop has the right tools, systems, and technology in place to support a dynamic work environment and a culture that supports growth and evolution. He will help track and identify key metrics to drive the organization’s work and impact.
Robinson will report to the CEO, Steve Youngwood, be a key strategic partner to the nonprofit organization’s senior leadership, serve as an Officer of the organization with the Board of Trustees, and will sit on Sesame Workshop’s leadership team.
“Brett has dedicated his career to public service and social good,” said Youngwood. “He possesses a depth and breadth of experience, having held multiple finance and administrative roles in city government, being the CFO at a large community-focused not-for-profit in the Brooklyn Public Library, and most recently at UNICEF USA, where he was not only the COO and CFO but also interim co-CEO during their transition. With over 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of strategy, technology, and finance, Brett brings visionary leadership, a sharp focus on data-driven decisions, and a high level of energy with a can-do mindset. We are thrilled to have him join to continue elevating Sesame Workshop’s operations and facilitate our mission of helping kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”
Most recently, Robinson was COO and CFO of UNICEF USA, a nonprofit organization with nine major markets across the U.S. dedicated to improving children’s and families’ lives in the world’s neediest places through advocacy, education, and fundraising. He was responsible for developing strategy and managing operations while leading Finance, Human Resources, Technology, Facilities / Administration, Grants Management, Planning / Performance, Institutional Partnerships, and Planned Gifts. Prior to that, Robinson spent five years as Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration, and Chief Financial Officer for Brooklyn Public Library, where he developed strategy and managed operations to ensure effective and efficient delivery of library service to Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents. He has also served in executive positions at NYC Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget.
Brett Robinson earned a Master of Public Administration, Policy and Management from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts, History from Cornell University.