Winslow Hastie to Step Down as President & CEO at End of 2026
Historic Charleston Foundation has announced that Winslow Hastie has decided to step down as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 31, 2026, following 20 years of service to the Foundation, including nine years as President & CEO.
Hastie’s decision follows a thoughtful period of reflection about the Foundation’s future and his own next chapter. He recently became Chair of his family’s business and foundation, a role that will require additional time and attention. He believes the time is right for a leadership transition while HCF is in a position of strength.
“Winslow’s legacy at Historic Charleston Foundation extends far beyond the remarkable work of preserving individual buildings and historic places,” said David Maybank III, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “He has helped broaden the way Charleston thinks about preservation, connecting it to the city’s future, its neighborhoods, its resilience, and the quality of life of its residents. His leadership was instrumental in bringing the Dutch Dialogues to Charleston and in advancing the Foundation’s work to ensure preservation is an integral part of how Charleston plans for its future. Winslow leaves the Foundation with a strong staff, sound finances, and an ambitious vision for the years ahead. We are deeply grateful for his extraordinary service and leadership.”
Under Hastie’s leadership, the Foundation has continued to expand its role as a leader in preservation, advocacy, and community engagement. His tenure has reflected a broad view of preservation, one that recognizes that protecting Charleston’s historic character must go hand in hand with thoughtful planning for the city’s future.
“I have devoted much of my professional life to Historic Charleston Foundation, and this has not been an easy decision,” said Hastie. “But this is the right time to begin a leadership transition. The Foundation is strong, our staff is exceptional, and I feel very good about the direction in which the organization is headed. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served HCF for the past 20 years, and I look forward to helping ensure a successful transition.”
Notable accomplishments during his tenure at the Foundation include:
- Co-directing the rewrite of the city’s Preservation Plan in 2008, expanding both the definition and geography of historic preservation in Charleston. This plan won a National Preservation Award from the National Trust in 2009.
- Driving the evolution of the Foundation’s Revolving Fund program into a more multifaceted initiative that addresses housing affordability and gentrification, resulting in the Common Cause Loan Program.
- Leading the Dutch Dialogues planning effort after participating in a city delegation trip to the Netherlands. This initiative led to concrete changes in the city’s water management and resilience policies, infrastructure investments, and thinking holistically about water.
- Creating the successful HCF program now known as Charleston by Design. His goal was to bring people into the preservation movement through the non-traditional avenue of contemporary design.
The Foundation will begin a professionally facilitated national search with an executive search firm for its next President & CEO. The Board of Trustees plans to establish a committee composed of Trustees and potentially members from the broader community to steer the process. The nearly five-month transition period will allow the Board to conduct a deliberate and thorough search and ensure an orderly transition of leadership.
“Historic Charleston Foundation enters this transition from a position of considerable strength,” Maybank said. “We have an experienced and highly capable staff, strong leadership throughout the organization, and a clear commitment to our mission. Our responsibility now is to build on the solid foundation Winslow has helped create and to identify the leader who can guide HCF into its next chapter.”
Hastie intends to remain engaged in the preservation movement following his departure and hopes to continue contributing to the Foundation and its work in some capacity in the future.
“Historic Charleston Foundation has been my professional home for two decades, and its mission means a great deal to me,” Hastie said. “I will always care deeply about this organization and about Charleston’s future. My focus between now and December will be on helping HCF have a smooth and successful transition and positioning the Foundation for continued impact in the years ahead.”
The Foundation will share additional information about the leadership search as the process develops.
For more information, please contact Blair Phillips, Director of Communications, at bphillips@historiccharleston.org.