Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien and the board of trustees of Catholic Charities of Baltimore have tapped William J. McCarthy Jr. to lead the organization on the retirement of longtime Executive Director Harold A. Smith. “The combination of Bill McCarthy’s executive experience in the Baltimore area, as well as his deep personal commitment to the church’s mission of serving the neediest among us, made him an ideal choice,” O’Brien said in a statement. A parishioner of the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, McCarthy is president of SunTrust Bank, Greater Baltimore, and executive vice president for wealth and investment management of SunTrust Bank Mid-Atlantic. “I cannot imagine a more powerful calling to public service than leading Catholic Charities,” he said. McCarthy takes over on Aug. 1. Smith, who has been executive director for 33 years, will remain on staff through the end of the year to assist in the transition.O’Brien praised Smith as an effective leader. “Since coming to Baltimore in the fall of 2007, I have been struck by the scope of Catholic Charities’ reach in every corner of our archdiocese and by the well-earned reputation it has gained locally and nationally as a model charitable outreach system,” he said. “While Hal’s vision and compassion will be greatly missed as he enjoys a well-deserved retirement, his legacy will likely continue to be felt by those who turn to our Church for compassion and help for many years to come.” With 80 programs assisting 160,000 individuals and families every year, Catholic Charities is the leading private provider of human services in Maryland.
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