Rowen Foundation Announces Leadership Transition

Launches National Search for Next CEO and President

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (July 7, 2026) — The Rowen Foundation today announced that President and CEO Mason Ailstock will step down after accepting the opportunity to serve as president of the Centurion Foundation leading higher education services.

Since joining Rowen in 2020 as its first president and CEO, Ailstock has helped oversee the organization’s vision becoming one of the nation’s most promising knowledge communities, bringing together industry, higher education and government to create a destination for innovation at the intersection of medicine, agriculture and the environment.

During his tenure, Rowen completed the first phase of infrastructure for its 2,000-acre campus, welcomed global biopharmaceutical company UCB as its first corporate tenant, expanded partnerships with leading universities and research institutions, advanced plans for the Rowen Convergence Center and initiated development opportunities that will shape the community’s next phase of growth.

“The Board is deeply grateful to Mason for his vision, leadership and tireless commitment to building Rowen,” said Board Chair Sachin Shailendra. “Founding a new organization is never easy, and Mason helped establish the partnerships, culture and momentum that position Rowen for long-term success. Thanks to his leadership and the outstanding work of our staff, board and partners, Rowen is entering an exciting new chapter from a position of tremendous strength.”

Shailendra said the Board of Directors has retained Korn Ferry to conduct a national search for Rowen’s next president and CEO. The search will begin immediately, with the Board anticipating new leadership later this fall.

“Rowen today is fundamentally different than it was five years ago,” Shailendra said. “Our first phase of infrastructure is complete. Vertical development is beginning. Our first corporate partner is preparing to establish its campus. The Convergence Center continues moving toward groundbreaking, and additional opportunities remain in the pipeline. Our mission is unchanged, our momentum is strong and our commitment to creating a globally recognized innovation community has never been greater.”

Ailstock said serving as Rowen’s first president and CEO has been one of the greatest privileges of his career.

“Helping bring Rowen from vision to reality has been an extraordinary experience,” Ailstock said. “I am incredibly grateful to the Board of Directors, our exceptional staff, our university and industry partners, local and state leaders and everyone who has believed in Rowen’s mission. Together, we have laid a strong foundation for what comes next, and I have every confidence that the organization’s best days are still ahead.”

Throughout the transition, Shailendra will work closely with the existing Rowen Foundation leadership team and Board of Directors to ensure continuity across the Foundation’s operations, real estate, partnerships and economic development efforts. Current projects, including UCB’s planned North American manufacturing campus, planning for the Convergence Center, mixed-use development opportunities and preparations for various events continue on schedule.

Founded in 2020, the Rowen Foundation is developing a globally recognized knowledge community designed to accelerate collaboration among research universities, innovative companies and entrepreneurs working to solve complex challenges in medicine, agriculture and the environment. Located along University Parkway in Gwinnett County, Rowen is designed to foster discovery, commercialization and economic opportunity while creating a vibrant mixed-use community where innovation and quality of life converge.

For additional information about Rowen, visit www.rowenlife.com.

About Rowen

Owning 2,000 carefully preserved acres along Highway 316 in Gwinnett County, Ga., Rowen is a visionary knowledge community that will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators at the intersection of the Atlanta, Athens and Gainesville metropolitan statistical areas and more than 50 research and educational institutions. A new multi-use concept designed to foster discoveries in agricultural, medical and environmental sciences, Rowen will build on the land’s rich history of thoughtful environmental stewardship, while changing the economic and social trajectory of Gwinnett, Georgia and our nation for generations. For more information, please visit www.rowenlife.com.

About Rowen Foundation

Rowen Foundation is the independent, mission-driven, not-for-profit entity leading the planning and visioning of Rowen. With its mission to be a catalyst for education, research, innovation and transformation, the foundation is responsible for project leadership and operations to ensure the long-term vision for Rowen is never compromised.

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