DAVID MAHER SELECTED AS NEXT PRESIDENT & CEO OF CAMBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
• Unanimous choice of the Chamber’s Board of Directors
•Maher will not seek re-election to City Council
Nov 9, 2016 – The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce today announced that David Maher, Cambridge City Councilor and former two term Mayor of Cambridge, has been selected to be the Chamber’s next President and Chief Executive Officer.
Maher was the unanimous selection of the Chamber’s Board of Directors who, after considering a pool of more than 100 candidates, determined that Maher has the unique leadership experience and vision to guide the Chamber. “We are thrilled to have David on board as President and CEO of the Chamber,” said Jay Kiely, Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. "His skills as a consensus builder, experience in the public and private sector and deep understanding of our city’s strengths and challenges, make him the perfect choice to lead the Chamber into the future.”
Maher will assume leadership of the Cambridge Chamber, one of the largest business organizations in New England, in early December. He will not seek re-election to the Cambridge City Council in 2017.
“I am honored to be selected to lead the Cambridge Chamber,” said Maher, who was elected nine times to the Cambridge City Council and served four years as Mayor. “I am deeply honored by all the support I have received from the citizens of Cambridge throughout my political career and proud of the work I have done as City Councilor and Mayor. I look forward to building on that support with the Chamber and this great City.”
Maher brings deep ties to Cambridge’s business, civic and political communities. In addition to serving as a City Councilor and Mayor, he also served as School Committee Member and School Committee Chair. Most recently, Maher oversaw the search and selection process for the City’s new City Manager and Superintendent of Schools.
In the private sector, Maher has also worked for over 20 years as Director of Development & Public Relations for Cambridge Family & Children’s Service, one of Cambridge’s oldest human service agencies and spearheaded an ambitious capital campaign to further the agency’s mission. Maher’s selection was applauded by local leaders. “With a dynamic public background and strong private sector experience, David will excel in this new role and enrich the partnerships at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce,” said Biogen Foundation Executive Director Chris Barr, who headed the search process for Chamber President.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with David on many important issues,” said Cambridge’s incoming City Manager Louis DePasquale. “Throughout his public career, he has always balanced the objectives of his constituents with the best interests of the City of Cambridge. His passion, commitment and love of Cambridge will serve him well in his new role.”
Maher, a graduate of Suffolk University, was born, raised and resides in the City.