Toronto Community Housing board confirms Keiko Nakamura as Chief Executive
Officer

TORONTO, Feb. 23 /CNW/ - David Mitchell, chair of the Board of Directors, Toronto Community Housing, today confirmed the appointment of Keiko Nakamura as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Nakamura has been acting in the position since May 2009.

"The board unanimously agrees that Keiko is the right person for the job," said Mr. Mitchell. "No one knows the organization, its staff and tenants, and social housing in Toronto better than Keiko. She has the experience, commitment and passion to lead Toronto Community Housing's efforts to build strong communities across the city."

With Ms. Nakamura confirmed as the organization's top executive, Toronto Community Housing is well-positioned to achieve its priorities of delivering better quality housing, improving service to tenants, being a caring landlord, and revitalizing neighbourhoods, said Mr. Mitchell.

"The board values Keiko's leadership and we look forward to continuing to work with her in meeting the challenges of providing better and affordable housing to the people and communities of Toronto," said Mitchell.

Ms. Nakamura joined Toronto Community Housing in June 2005 and previously served as the organization's first-ever Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the organization, Ms. Nakamura was Director of Facilities Services at the City of Toronto and held the posts of Administrative Director, Addiction Medicine and Concurrent Disorders and Director of Clinical Services at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Toronto Community Housing provides quality housing for low and moderate income households and creates conditions to enable healthy communities. The corporation owns and manages a $6-billion housing portfolio that includes more than 57,500 units of housing in over 2,800 buildings and houses across the city of Toronto.

About Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants with low and moderate incomes - about six per cent of the City of Toronto's population. Toronto Community Housing employs 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs who deliver the organization's mandate to provide quality housing and build great neighbourhoods. Toronto Community Housing is one of Canada's 2009 Top 100 Employers.

Biography

Keiko Nakamura

Keiko Nakamura is the Chief Executive Officer for Toronto Community Housing. She is responsible for the second largest social housing company in North America with 58,000 social housing units, tenant and community services for more than 164,000 tenants in 2,500 buildings across 300 communities, and for managing $6 billion in assets. She is responsible for 1,400 multidisciplinary staff.

Keiko has extensive experience in the public sector. She joined Toronto Community Housing in 2005 as its first Chief Operating Officer, and served as acting Chief Executive Officer from May 2009 to January 2010. Keiko served as Director, Facilities Services and as Director, Financial Administration with the City of Toronto, from 2001 to 2005. Her experience also includes 10 years in the health care sector, namely the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Addiction Research Foundation where she served in several progressive capacities including Administrative Director of Addiction Medicine and Concurrent Disorders, and Director of Clinical Services.

Keiko has extensive public sector experience and in particular with large, complex, organizational mergers and restructuring efforts. Her commitment to building healthy communities stems from strong community engagement principles, building on individual and community assets and ensuring service culture is embedded in every form of planning and delivery of service. She brings strong skills in financial and program administration, organizational development, customer service administration, process reengineering, technology and research, and strategic planning.

Keiko sits on the board of Ontario's Youth Challenge Fund, DiverseCity, Social Housing Services Corporation, Housing Services Incorporated, and Housing Connections. She is an active member on various steering and advisory groups, including the Mayor's Panel on Community Safety.

For further information: Kyle Rooks, Media Relations, [phone] or [email protected], www.torontohousing.ca