Sustainable Hospitality Podcast

Episode #63: Protecting Our Waters | Jack Lighton

Kathy Sue McGuire and Amy Wald Episode 63

Jack Lighton is the Executive Director of 4ocean Foundation, the philanthropic arm of 4ocean, one of the world’s largest global ocean cleanup companies dedicated to ending the ocean plastic crisis. 

Since 2017, 4ocean’s professional, full-time captains and crews have removed over 40 million pounds of plastic pollution from the world’s ocean, rivers, and coastlines.

4ocean has built a vibrant lifestyle brand with a digital network of over 25m active followers enabling campaigns to reach billions of hearts and minds who can help 4ocean address the ocean plastic crisis. 

Mr. Lighton works with philanthropists, foundations, and corporations to significantly scale 4ocean’s local and global clean up operations, with a bold goal to exceed over 100m pounds of plastic pulled in the next five years.

Mr. Lighton is the immediate past CEO of SeaLegacy, a global nonprofit recognized for their award-winning advocacy campaigns that resulted in the significant expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which are critical to restoring and re-wilding the ocean.

Prior to SeaLegacy Mr. Lighton spent nearly ten-years as President & CEO of Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) where he worked with the community to transform the center’s visibility, visitation, and conservation impact, repositioning the center into one of Florida’s most visited and respected scientific and cultural facilities.  

Mr. Lighton’s career began in management consulting where he spent two-decades with the firms Harris Interactive-Nielsen and J.D. Power & Associates managing diverse teams based in Detroit, New York, London, and Singapore.

Mr. Lighton lives in Palm Beach County, Florida and contributes his time to multiple boards including:
-Friends of Manatee Lagoon (founding board member) 

-Discover The Palm Beaches (Executive Committee)

In his free time, Mr. Lighton enjoys:
-Advocating for animal rescue and traveling the United States in his family’s motor-coach named, “Karl.”

Mr. Lighton’s comprehensive professional achievements are viewable on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacklighton/

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