> US SAILING Media > Latest News > 2010 > Charlie Leighton to Retire as US SAILING’s Executive Director
Charlie Leighton to Retire as US SAILING’s Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (September 22, 2010) – Charlie Leighton, US SAILING’s Executive Director, announced Wednesday that he has elected to retire in October. Leighton has been on the job since January of 2005.During Leighton’s successful six-year stint as the National Governing Body’s executive director, US SAILING significantly improved its foundation by achieving and sustaining financial stability. He has also recruited and developed a competent management staff that will lead the sport into the future. Leighton has been instrumental in maintaining the organization’s mission to provide leadership, integrity and advancement for the sport of sailing.
On behalf of the board of directors, US SAILING President Gary Jobson had this to say about Leighton’s contributions to the organization and the sport of sailing: “Charlie Leighton has had a brilliant career on and off the water. His service has been invaluable and our sport is better as a direct result of his efforts. We will deeply miss his leadership and passion.”
The former Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Leighton, 75, was once Chairman and CEO of the CML Group Inc., a NYSE listed company; Chairman of the NYSE Listed Company Advisory Board; a Director at MetLife; President of the Harvard Business School Alumni Council and currently a Trustee of the Lahey Clinic. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1957, and started the school’s first sailing team. He later graduated from the Harvard Business School. Leighton remains an active sailor and still races his 42-foot Hinckley, Whitecap.
Moving forward, Leighton plans on continuing to chair the Medalist fundraising program for the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics in a volunteer role. President Jobson and the board of directors will name an acting executive director of US SAILING within the next week.
About US SAILING
The mission of the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the National Governing Body for the sport, is to provide leadership, integrity and advancement for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.