HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – NEW YORK CITY NAMES PETER KNITZER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Knitzer Brings Financial and Management Expertise to Premier Affordable Housing Group
NEW YORK, NY, March 1, 2011 — Habitat for Humanity - New York City today announced the appointment of Peter Knitzer, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citibank North America, as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Habitat-NYC, a leading affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, builds affordable homes for ownership in New York City’s five boroughs.
Josh Lockwood, Executive director of Habitat-NYC, said, “Habitat for Humanity – New York City is thrilled to welcome Peter Knitzer as Chairman of our Board of Directors. In his time with Habitat-NYC, Peter has personified values of volunteerism and social justice. We are fortunate to have him leading our organization at this critical time as we build more affordable, green co-ops and condos than ever before and seek to stabilize NYC’s hardest-hit neighborhoods.”
“I am deeply humbled and very grateful to have been asked to serve as Habitat-NYC's Board Chairman,” Mr. Knitzer said. ”At this particular moment for our city, Habitat-NYC's work is desperately needed, and as I hear the stories from the families we serve, the communities we support and low-income families for whom we advocate, I, like all of you feel moved and inspired to do more.”
Mr. Knitzer has been active with Habitat-NYC for more than a dozen years and is a familiar sight on both Habitat construction sites and in the boardroom. After his first Habitat-NYC experience in 1999, leading a team of Citi volunteers in a day of building affordable homes, Mr. Knitzer was hooked. He continued to volunteer in many capacities and joined the Board of Directors three years ago.
In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Knitzer said he is “committed to continuing Habitat-NYC’s growth trajectory, improving more neighborhoods than ever before and touching tens of thousands of lives every year.” He added, “Our goal is to improve the health, education, prosperity and overall wellbeing of struggling New York City families for generations to come.”
Mr. Knitzer is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citibank North America and member of Citigroup's Management Committee and the Global Consumer Planning Group. He joined Citi in 1996 and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including Director of Credit Marketing, Executive Vice President of Citi Cards and Head of Customer Franchise Management, working across all North American Consumer businesses to integrate/grow customer relationships.
Prior to joining Citi, Mr. Knitzer worked for the cards businesses of both Chase Manhattan Bank and American Express. His work experience includes packaged-goods brand marketing at Nabisco Brands, Inc. Peter received his M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and completed his undergraduate work at Brown University. Mr. Knitzer lives in New York City with his wife and their two children.
Beverly Cheuvront (P) 212-991-4000 x 344 bcheuvront@habitatnyc.org
Habitat for Humanity - New York City transforms lives and our city by building quality homes for families in need and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing. With the help of thousands of volunteers every year, Habitat-NYC has built more than 220 affordable homes in the five boroughs of New York City. Learn more at www.habitatnyc.org. ###
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