Apr 14, 2014 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments has named Grant Oliphant the charity’s new president.

Oliphant previously spent more than 10 years with the Heinz Endowments in various senior management roles before spending the last six years as chief executive officer of another charity, The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Oliphant replaces Robert Vagt who left in January to become chairman of a Canonsburg-based natural gas drilling firm, Rice Energy, Inc., after heading the Heinz Endowments since 2008. The charity headed by Teresa Heinz Kerry is not part of the global ketchup and food company of the same name.

Vagt played a key role in the formation last year of the Center for Sustainable Shale Development, a coalition of foundations, environmental groups and natural gas drillers. But other leading environmental groups criticized the effort.

The Pittsburgh Foundation hopes to replace Oliphant by the fall.