We’re thrilled to welcome our new president to Mercy For Animals. In this blog, in his own words, Arash Yomtobian reflects on the journey that brought him to this role, the values that guide him, and his vision for a more compassionate food system. Get to know the heart and mind behind our newest leader in our fight to build a kinder food system for all.
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Fellow advocates, the way we treat our planet and all who share it is one of the greatest tests of our time, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. That’s why I’m so honored to step into the role of president at Mercy For Animals, working alongside CEO Leah Garcés to strengthen the systems that drive our mission to end factory farming. I’m excited to help scale our global reach, speed up the shift toward a compassionate food system, and create a kinder world for animals everywhere.
1. Tell us about your background and experiences that shaped your early interests and values.
I was born in Tehran, where being Jewish with three older sisters made our family’s life untenable after the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War. We fled as refugees, first to Vienna before settling in New York. My father, a barber for more than 80 years, taught me how listening and bearing witness can heal, while my mother modeled courage and tenderness. The values they instilled in me still guide me: leadership is service, compassion requires courage, and equity and freedom belong to all.
2. What led you to become vegan, and how has that decision shaped your life?
I became vegan nearly a decade ago after realizing the disconnect between my values and my plate. Once I confronted the realities of factory farming and my own cognitive dissonance, I couldn’t turn away.
For me, veganism has been a re-remembering of what we all innately know: that compassion must extend to all beings. While my decision was first and foremost for the animals, it has also been the most impactful decision for my own well-being, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It deepened my integrity and gave me a daily practice of living the change I want to see in the world.
3. Of all the organizations you could have joined, what drew you to Mercy For Animals in particular?
Its breadth and focus. Mercy For Animals works at every level of change, partnering with governments, securing commitments from some of the world’s most influential companies, and shaping public opinion in profound ways.
Mercy For Animals also played an important role in my own journey nine years ago, when I became an ethical vegan and began confronting my choices. And when I met the board of directors and experienced Leah’s inspiring leadership, it all fell into place.
For me, Mercy For Animals is where strategy, impact, and heart meet, and I knew it was the right home.
4. What core values or principles guide your decisions, both personally and professionally?
I strive to live as one whole person, guided by listening deeply, acting with integrity, and choosing compassion—even when it’s risky or unpopular.
5. How have your experiences in tech, finance, and entrepreneurship prepared you for this role and inspired your transition into the nonprofit world?
I’ve been fortunate to work in industries that were transformative not only for the world but for me personally. Tech, finance, and entrepreneurship all taught me invaluable lessons.
At Google, I learned that “moonshots” isn’t a buzzword. The most ambitious visions can be realized when grounded in clear goals, measurable outcomes, and disciplined execution. In finance, I honed precision and strategic decision-making, while in entrepreneurship, co-founding a vegan fragrance company taught me the power of starting small, staying true to purpose, and scaling thoughtfully.
Together, these experiences shaped me as a relational leader and innovator, preparing me to bring both vision and execution to what I believe is the most urgent challenge of our time: ending factory farming and building a compassionate, sustainable food system.
6. In your new role as president, what will you focus on day to day?
My daily focus will be threefold. First, listening, spending time with our staff, supporters, partners, and allies to understand how we can build on our progress and maximize impact for farmed animals.
Second, execution, driving strategies grounded in clear goals and measurable outcomes while ensuring every dollar and every effort delivers results. I want us to be relentless in maximizing the impact of every dollar from supporters and every minute our incredible team puts into their work.
And third, culture, fostering an environment where people feel inspired, safe, and equipped to do their best work.
7. What impact do you hope to have on the Mercy For Animals team and staff culture?
Mercy For Animals already has a strong culture rooted in compassion and collaboration, and I want to build on that foundation. My goal is to cultivate a culture that is both brave and kind where people feel challenged and supported in equal measure and empowered to bring their full selves to the work.
8. When the scale of factory farming feels daunting, what inspires you to continue this work?
Love and light always win in the end. Always. We may not be there yet, but together we will get there. At the heart of our mission, I believe very few people in the world are truly against the compassion we seek.
And every action we take together, every meal shifted, every policy changed, every undercover investigation released, every corporate commitment realized, every heart awakened, brings that future closer.
9. What would you tell other executives considering a transition from corporate to mission-driven work?
I’m not sure there’s one answer. Everyone is trying to figure it out with the time they’re given on this spinning, sentient rock we all share. But I often think about the fact that the average human life span is between 25,000 and 30,000 days (and studies suggest vegans are on the higher end of that!).
How many of those days have you already lived? Is there another kind of impact you’d like to make beyond the ones you’ve made so far? For me, a big part of my decisions has been checking in with the versions of my five-year-old and 85-year-old selves and asking whether I’m honoring them both.
10. How do you hope to inspire people to make compassionate choices in their daily lives?
Whenever possible, the best way to inspire compassion is by invitation, not judgment. Most people aren’t opposed to it; they simply get caught in habits, fears, or the convenience of the familiar.
Storytelling, delicious food, accessible choices, and sitting with the truth break through barriers and awaken far better than shame ever could. At the same time, the urgency is real: Billions of animals suffer while the planet and our health are at dire risk. When compassion feels possible, joyful, and shared, people realize it’s not just a choice—it’s a responsibility we can all embrace.
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