Columbus Humane appoints Erich Hunker as CEO after leadership transition and national search process
Leadership change comes after long-tenured CEO’s planned departure
Columbus Humane has named Erich Hunker as its chief executive officer, marking the latest step in a leadership transition that began with the announced exit of longtime CEO Rachel D.K. Finney.
Finney, who led the organization for 16 years, disclosed in February 2024 that she would transition out of the role effective on or before June 30, 2024. At the time, the board said a national search was underway to identify the next leader.
Hunker’s start date and professional background
Hunker, a veteran fundraising and nonprofit management executive, moved into the CEO position in June 2024 after serving for decades at Columbus Academy, where he oversaw fundraising, alumni relations, parent relations and marketing/communications functions. His departure from the school was set for mid-June 2024, with June 14 identified as his last day there.
His career has included leadership roles connected to fundraising, membership, marketing and communications at the Toledo Zoo and the Baltimore Zoo prior to his tenure at Columbus Academy. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from The Ohio State University.
Columbus Humane’s mission and operational footprint
Columbus Humane operates as a private nonprofit organization and serves as a law enforcement agency responsible for investigating reports of animal cruelty in Franklin County. The organization has described its scope of work as encompassing animal cruelty investigations, animal adoptions, low-cost veterinary care and pet food assistance, alongside programs designed to support pet owners during crises.
In outlining the organization’s scale during the leadership transition, Columbus Humane reported that its animal cruelty investigations unit responds to an average of about 6,000 investigations each year. It also stated that it cares for an average of more than 250 animals daily and facilitates an average of roughly 3,000 adoptions annually.
Prior administration’s expansion of facilities and programs
During Finney’s tenure, the organization reported significant growth in staffing, facilities and services, including multiple building projects and the creation of the Essential Care Center, described as a facility combining subsidized veterinary care, pet food assistance and veterinary workforce training. Columbus Humane also reported a long-running partnership with The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine that includes shelter medicine rotations for fourth-year veterinary students and spay/neuter services in the community.
What the transition means for near-term priorities
The CEO appointment places Hunker at the helm as Columbus Humane continues managing a complex portfolio that blends traditional sheltering functions with investigative authority and community-based services. In public remarks made around his hiring, Hunker described the organization’s role as both an animal welfare provider and a community resource, pointing to cruelty investigations, adoptions and access to veterinary care as core components of its work.
- New CEO: Erich Hunker
- Outgoing CEO transition announced: February 6, 2024
- Outgoing CEO transition effective: on or before June 30, 2024
- CEO changeover timing: June 2024
Columbus Humane has described its mission as fighting animal cruelty, helping animals in need and advocating for their well-being.