Stacey Mindich & Richard E. Witten Named New Co-Chairs of New York City Center

The Board of Directors of New York City Center today announced that Stacey Mindich and Richard E. Witten have been named Co-Chairmen of the Board of City Center, effective July 1. Mindich and Witten succeEd Raymond A. Lamontagne, who stepped down on June 30 after 14 years as Chairman.

Stacey Mindich, a member of City Center's Board of Directors since 2009, is a theatrical producer who develops plays and musicals for the commercial theater, both on and off-Broadway. Her Production Company, Stacey Mindich Productions, is dedicated to premiering new musical works, nurturing new voices, and presenting notable revivals. Her producing credits include Annie, The Heiress, Lucky Guy, Catch Me If You Can, 13, A Catered Affair, and the upcoming The Bridges of Madison County. Ms. Mindich has been a member of City Center's Board for the past four years, and has chaired the Nominating Committee and served on its Executive Committee. She and her husband, Eric Mindich, are Founding Sponsors of City Center's new musical theater series, Encores! Off-Center.

"My work as a member of City Center's Board has been incredibly rewarding," said Mindich. "New York City Center is one of the country's premiere cultural centers, and I have enjoyed doing my part to help it grow, particularly by helping to launch Encores! Off-Center, a project that is very dear to my heart. It is an honor to join with Richard Witten to help guide this historic institution into the future."

Richard E. Witten is a new member of City Center's Board of Directors. He is the Senior Managing Director of The Orienta Group, an investment and advisory firm. Before forming The Orienta Group, Mr. Witten was a Partner and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs and Co. from 1990 to 2002, having started his career at that firm in 1981. Mr. Witten serves as the Special Advisor to the President of Columbia University, a position he recently assumed after retiring as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University. He is a member of the Board of the Columbia Investment Management Company and the Columbia University Medical Center Board of Advisors. In addition, Mr. Witten is a Board member of the Harlem Children's Zone and a Trustee of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. Mr. Witten and his wife, Lisa, also a member of the City Center Board of Directors, are the principal funders of iTeach, a public health outreach program based in Durban, South Africa. Mr. Witten chairs the Board of Advisors of the Ragon Institute, a health research partnership between the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University and MIT.

"I have had the opportunity to get to know and love City Center through my wife, Lisa, and her work as a Board member," said Witten. "It's a thrill to be able to take a more active role here as we work to enhance the mission and programming of this wonderful institution. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ray Lamontagne for his incredible contributions during his 14 years as Chairman. Stacey and I aspire to chair this Board of devoted and remarkable directors with the same skill and leadership that Ray has shown, and to guide City Center toward even greater successes in the future."

During his tenure, Lamontagne helped guide City Center through a period of extraordinary growth, which included the birth of the Fall for Dance Festival andEncores! Off-Center, as well as the theater's recent, award-winning renovation.

"It's been an honor serving City Center," said Lamontagne. "And now that my time has come to retire, I can think of no two better people than Stacey and Richard to take the helm. Stacey's expertise as a theatrical producer, and Richard's acumen in financial management and nonprofit leadership at Columbia-in addition to their many other strengths-will be important assets to City Center as it continues to expand its programming and bolster its finances. I know that they will contribute greatly to City Center's future growth."