Tanuja Dehne

Tanuja Dehne is the President and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation in Morristown, New Jersey, a role she assumed in September 2019. Dehne is also a seasoned public company director and former C-level executive of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 250 power company. She brings a wealth of experience from her cross-disciplinary roles to the C-suite and boardroom, offering deep insights into corporate governance, human resources, and strategic planning. She is noted for her leadership skills and her commitment to making a positive impact in various sectors.

Dehne currently serves on the Boards of Directors of publicly traded Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc., where she is the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and Advanced Disposal Services, where she serves as the Chair of the Compensation Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the Boards of Trustees for Lafayette College, New York Public Radio (Vice-Chair), and the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. Her past board experience includes serving on the Board of Directors for Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp. from 2012 to 2017. Dehne also recently served as a Senior Advisor on corporate governance for The B Team, an NGO focused on mobilizing global leaders to drive a better way of doing business for the well-being of people and the planet.

Dehne's tenure at NRG spanned 12 years, during which she served in various roles with increasing responsibility, including Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief of Staff. In these roles, she oversaw the company’s Human Resources, Information Technology, Communications, Sustainability, and Corporate Marketing departments. She also managed NRG’s charitable giving program, M&A integrations, and the construction of NRG’s sustainable corporate headquarters in Princeton, N.J. Prior to these positions, she led NRG’s Human Resources department, handling all HR functions. Dehne joined NRG in 2004 as Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in the Legal department, focusing on corporate governance and transactions. She previously practiced corporate law as a member of Saul Ewing’s business department.

Recognized as an influential leader in corporate governance and strategy, Dehne is a frequent speaker on topics including leadership, corporate governance, climate change, and talent development. She was named one of the “2018 NACD Directorship 100” and a “Director to Watch” in 2017 by Directors & Boards. Dehne’s academic credentials include an undergraduate degree from Lafayette College, a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Syracuse University. Additionally, she is a 200HR RYT certified yoga instructor, underscoring her commitment to well-being in both professional and personal realms.