Richard Weingarten to Lead UN Capital Development Fund as New Executive Secretary
 |
04 August 2005: -- The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) this week announced the appointment of Mr. Richard Weingarten as Executive Secretary of the organization.
Mr. Weingarten is an experienced financial advisor and investment banker. He started his career as Special Counsel to the Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission, in 1976. For more than ten years he has been President of Richard Weingarten and Company, Inc., which provides financial advisory and investment banking services to a wide variety of clients in both the private and non-profit sectors. Prior to starting his firm, he worked as a Managing Director for Bear Stearns and Co., Inc., and as a Vice-President for Alex. Brown & Sons, Inc.
“UNCDF’s mandate and mission – and especially its synergy with the UN Development Programme – are critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goals in the Least Developed Countries,” he said. “Through supporting the development of institutional capacity to promote local development with inclusive financial systems, and by providing capital for direct investments, we can ensure that the solutions we provide bring the greatest return on investment, meet the most serious needs and are – most importantly – sustainable and viable in the long-term. I look forward to contributing my background and experience to the work of this important organization, and to helping it meet the challenging demands of the 21 st century.”
Mr. Weingarten has worked on the ground in various roles under a variety of circumstances in areas such as microfinance and local development. Across Latin America, India and elsewhere, Mr. Weingarten has worked with many economic development experts and financial organizations and has a proven track record in resource mobilization. He has held several Board positions for a number of profit and non-profit organizations. He also held the position of Senior Vice President for Finance and Development for the College Board, a non-profit membership association of colleges and universities in New York City.
Mr. Weingarten holds a JD from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy and History from Yale University.
UNCDF contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Least Developed Countries through a variety of innovative approaches in both local development and microfinance.
