Wayne Pacelle (born August 4, 1965) is one of the leading contemporary advocates for animals in the United States, reshaping the legal framework in the United States and driving major changes in American business. He is founder of Animal Wellness Action, a 501(c)(4) organization that promotes legal standards against cruelty, and he is president of the Center for a Humane Economy, a 501(c)(3) organization. He is executive vice president of Karner Blue Capital, a for-profit investment advisor that includes in its portfolios publicly traded companies that are industry leaders in animal welfare and biodiversity.
Pacelle was the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). He took office June 1, 2004, after serving for nearly 10 years as the organization's chief lobbyist and spokesperson. While the HSUS board voted to keep Pacelle on as CEO, he chose to resign on February 2, 2018, after accusations of sexual harassment against him. Pacelle has vociferously denied these accusations.