BOSTON - The Board of Directors of United Way of Massachusetts Bay (UWMB) has unanimously approved the appointment of Marty Martinez to serve as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Martinez will begin serving as the Ansin President and CEO of UWMB on March 31, 2025. In this role, Martinez will lead United Way’s work to eradicate the conditions that lead to poverty and improve the financial wellbeing of individuals and families across the region.

“Marty is a visionary leader who is poised to lead United Way of Massachusetts Bay as it uplifts solutions from communities, mobilizes the resources necessary to fund them, and advocates to scale what’s working,” said Tammi Wortham, United Way Board Chair and Senior Vice-President of Human Resources at Sun Life US. “His professional experiences and personal background make him an ideal candidate to help lead UWMB in its next chapter to empower more equitable communities across our region.”

Martinez has over 25 years of experience working on behalf of children and families in the Greater Boston area and has a proven track record of effectively tackling some of the most pressing issues facing communities. His professional experiences include serving in local, state and national leadership roles, including as the CEO of national nonprofit organization Reach Out and Read and as the City of Boston’s Chief of Health and Human Services.  

“United Way’s mission to create economic opportunity for all is more important than ever, and we will move with urgency to tackle the work ahead,” said Martinez. "It’s an honor to join this incredible organization and contribute to the transformative work made possible by a dedicated team, unparalleled community of donors and supporters, and our public and private sector partners.”

In his current role as the national CEO of Reach Out and Read, Martinez provided national strategic leadership and direction of the $30 million dollar organization and grew its impact for children and families across the country. Prior to Reach Out and Read, he served as Boston’s Chief of Health and Human Services, providing guidance and insight on issues impacting the public health of Boston residents. He provided key leadership in driving the City’s efforts to address pressing public health issues, including its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, violence prevention and intervention, the substance use disorder epidemic, and the City’s work to strengthen services for youth and young adults.

“Marty has a depth and breadth of experience on an array of critical issues facing our region,” said Marty Walsh, former Mayor of the City of Boston. “During his time as our chief of health and human services, he was a strong advocate for what our communities needed, especially in times of crisis, and mobilized government, corporate, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors to identify and support effective solutions.”

Martinez’ professional experiences are strengthened by his personal story, which has shaped his passion for mission driven work.

“As someone who grew up in a low-income household, led by a single mother, I’m someone who knows the systems and supports that created the opportunities for me to access the American dream that I know today,” Martinez said. “These personal experiences shape how I see the world and how I tackle the work that is needed to truly create more equitable communities.”

Last fall, UWMB unveiled a major shift in its giving strategy aimed at advancing economic mobility and thriving, equitable communities. UWMB’s vision has taken root with 124 carefully chosen partner organizations who share its commitment to community engagement and empowerment. Through strategic partnerships and measurable outcomes, UWMB is forging a path toward a region where financial well-being is not a privilege but a shared reality.

“Marty is a strong leader whose nonprofit and public sector experience will keep our communities moving forward,” said Bob Rivers, Executive Chair at Eastern Bank. “We share common cause with United Way to accelerate economic mobility and advance equitable prosperity across the region.  Marty brings the experience and knowledge that communities we both serve need to close widening income and wealth gaps, address disparities in access to opportunity and build an economy that works for everyone.” 

Nearly 300,000 people in UWMB’s region have incomes below the federal poverty rate. More than two-thirds of these individuals live in just 12 cities. To create the most impact, UWMB focuses its efforts on the cities with the highest number of households excluded from financial well-being: Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Salem and Taunton. UWMB’s commitment to measurable progress is evident in its focus on advancing financial well-being, fostering emergency savings, alleviating housing cost burdens, expanding access to affordable childcare and empowering the next generation.

Martinez also previously served as President and CEO at Mass Mentoring Partnership, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to growing and expanding opportunities for youth and young adults through empowering mentoring and developmental relationships with adults.

In addition to his professional experiences, Martinez serves on a number of civic and nonprofit advisory councils and boards working to strengthen the social fabric of our communities. He is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Empowerment and a member of the Health Equity Compact, and serves on the Board of Victory Programs.

“The Board of Directors extends its deep appreciation to Interim President and CEO Daphne Principe-Griffin and the United Way senior leadership team,” Wortham said.  “They have continued to advance United Way’s work to raise and deploy resources in our communities and the organization has served as a trusted advisor on issues such as the emergency shelter and housing crisis, efforts to expand childcare and out-of-school time, and the landmark Affordable Homes Act that was signed into law last summer.”

The search process for the next President and CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay was professionally managed by global leadership advisory and search firm Koya.

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About United Way of Massachusetts Bay

With over 85 years of local impact in eastern Massachusetts, UWMB works with and for communities to build economic prosperity, bringing together individuals, community leaders, corporate partners, legislators, and organizations to build a powerful engine of change. UWMB has deep relationships with a broad network of partners on the ground. This positions the organization to quickly raise and deploy resources when and where they are needed most, especially in times of crisis.