Overview

• Jason Knauf has been formally appointed as the new CEO of the Earthshot Prize, effective immediately, succeeding Hannah Jones, who will step down this summer after four years of leadership.
• Prince William praised Jones for building the Earthshot Prize into a globally recognized platform and expressed confidence in Knauf's ability to guide its next phase of growth.
• Knauf previously served as communications secretary to both royal couples and later as CEO of the Royal Foundation, playing a key role in the creation of the Earthshot Prize and serving as a trustee since 2022.
• His appointment renews public attention on his 2018 bullying complaint against Meghan Markle, which led to a Buckingham Palace investigation and updated HR policies, though the findings were not disclosed.
• The fifth Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony is scheduled for November 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, marking the initiative's first event in South America and coinciding with the COP30 climate summit.