Steven D. Krichmar elected to serve as Board Chair of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

Steve Krichmar (left) with Mike Durkin

BOSTON – United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley announced that Steven D. Krichmar, Managing Principal of Krichmar & Associates and former Chief of Operations at Putnam Investments, has been elected to serve as the new Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Krichmar was elected unanimously at United Way’s June Board meeting, and will lead the Board following the service of Susan Esper of Deloitte, whose two-year term ended on June 30.

“Steve will bring a deep commitment to our mission, a strong understanding of our organization and the ways we partner in the community, and the breadth and depth of strategic leadership needed to provide more people opportunities to take action on issues that they care about through United Way,” said Michael K. Durkin, president at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. “He will have a keen focus on growing our partnerships and demonstrating the value that United Way has to offer community organizations, corporate partners and individuals looking to create positive, lasting change in our region.”

Krichmar has served on UWMBMV’s Board of Directors since 2011. During his involvement with United Way, he has chaired the organization’s Administration and Finance Committee, providing oversight of United Way’s annual $48 million budget. This committee also played a key role in the development of United Way’s partnership in the first-in-the-nation Pay for Success initiative to end chronic individual homelessness.

He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Boston Children’s Hospital, the Board of Directors at Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, and the Board of Visitors of the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

“I am honored to lead an organization that is so well-positioned to roll up its sleeves and tackle the complex and challenging issues facing our communities,” Krichmar said.  “The work United Way does to harness the power of individuals, companies, nonprofit and government agencies to address community needs is essential. I am looking forward to working with other board members to continue to steward donor contributions toward organizations and programs that will ensure individuals and families have financial opportunity and achieve educational success.

Prior to founding Krichmar & Associates, Steve was the Chief of Operations at Putnam Investments. Before joining Putnam in 2001, he was an Audit Partner, and the Investment Management Industry Leader (Assurance) in the Northeast U.S., at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Boston.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in Accounting, and currently resides in the Boston area.