International Presidents
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, President-Founder, 1875-1907
Dr Annie Besant, 1907-1933
Dr George S. Arundale, 1934-1945
Mr C. Jinarajadasa, 1946-1953
Mr N. Sri Ram, 1953-1973
Mr John Coats, 1973-1979
Mrs Radha Burnier, 1980-2013
Mr Tim Boyd, 2014-
International Officers
President: Mr Tim Boyd
Vice-President: Mrs Deepa Padhi
Secretary: Ms Marja Artamaa
Treasurer: Ms Nancy Secrest
President
The President, who is elected every seven years by members all over the world, attends to a voluminous amount of work in Adyar, interspersed with intensive tours to every part of the theosophical world which he or she must undertake. Answering correspondence, meeting people, reading, writing, lecturing and talking, guiding and giving instructions on important matters relating to the Society, taking care of legal and social matters are some of the works a President handles. The work is both mundane and spiritual, for along with administration and organization, wise guidance must be given and the tone of the Society's role and function must be set. Col. H.S. Olcott was the first President, then followed Dr Annie Besant, Dr G.S. Arundale, Mr C. Jinarajadasa, Mr N. Sri Ram, Mr John Coats, Mrs Radha Burnier and Mr Tim Boyd - a succession of dedicated people with a record of selfless work.
Vice-President
The Vice-President acts on behalf of the President as necessary and assists him or her in various ways.
Secretary
The Secretary handles a large worldwide correspondence, maintains records including statistics of the worldwide membership of the Society, its Lodges and Sections , and is responsible for producing an informative annual report. The Secretary is also the Secretary of the General Council and the Executive Committee of the Society. This Committee, which meets a number of times each year, implements the decisions of the General Council and makes financial and administrative decisions relating to the Society's Headquarters.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the Society and prepares an annual financial report.
Official Journal
The monthly magazine The Theosophist, founded by H.P. Blavatsky in 1879
Presidents' Event Archive (2014 and earlier)
1976-2027
2021 - Mr Tim Boyd re-elected International President
2014 - Mr Tim Boyd elected International President
2013 - Mrs Radha Burnier passed away
1980 - Mrs Radha Burnier elected International President
1979 - Mr John Coats passed away
1951-1975
1973 - Mr John Coats elected International President
1973 - Mr N. Sri Ram passed away
1953 - Mr N. Sri Ram elected International President
1953 - Mr C. Jinarajadasa passed away
1926-1950
1946 - Mr C. Jinarajadasa elected International President
1945 - Dr G.S. Arundale passed away
1934 - Dr G.S. Arundale elected International President
1933 - Dr Annie Besant passed away
1901-1925
1907 - Mrs Annie Besant elected International President
1907 - Colonel H.S. Olcott passed away
1875-1900
1875 - Colonel H.S. Olcott elected International President