Deborah Lehr

Deborah Lehr is currently serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Meridian and is the Chief Executive Officer of Basilinna. She has worked across Asia, the United States, the Middle East, and Europe, with a focus on business advisory, sustainability, finance, and culture. After her firm was acquired, Deborah launched a new public affairs firm for the global PR firm, Edelman, where she doubled both the revenues and staff in three years. Basilinna relaunched in 2023. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Paulson Institute, created by former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. In addition, Deborah is the founder and Chairman of the Antiquities Coalition, which fights against the illicit trade in antiquities.

Earlier in her career, Deborah worked on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange and Merrill Lynch, as well serving in the U.S. Government as a Director at the National Security Council and a Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative. Her dedicated efforts in fighting the illicit trade in antiquities have earned her global recognition. Deborah is on the Board of Meridian, the National Geographic, the World Monuments Fund, the Middle East Institute, and the International Advisory Boards of Sesame Workshop and Aliph. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.