Boston Public Library Appoints David Leonard, Interim Library President & John Hailer, Interim Board Chair

From the Boston Public Library:

Today, the Boston Public Library (BPL) Board of Trustees voted to appoint David Leonard, the current Director of Administration and Technology at the Boston Public Library, to the position of Interim President of the BPL. Leonard joined the Library as Chief Technology Officer in July of 2009 and will step into his new role following the departure of President Amy Ryan on July 3, 2015. Trustee John T. Hailer will assume the position of Interim Chair of the Board, following the departure of Chair Jeffrey Rudman on July 3, 2015.
“I have great confidence in today’s interim leadership selections voted on by the Boston Public Library Board of Trustees,” said Mayor Walsh. “Ensuring that high quality programs and services are being delivered, especially in our neighborhoods, and that the library’s valuable assets are secure are the highest priorities during this transition.”
“I’m honored to have been chosen to lead this dynamic and important organization through the upcoming period. I look forward to working with Mayor Walsh and his team, the Board of Trustees, and BPL staff and partners, to make this a smooth and successful transition,” said David Leonard. “Boston Public Library will continue to deliver our core services to the residents of Boston, the State of Massachusetts, and beyond, as we move ahead on planned improvements, especially in the areas of collections management and security.”
“The Boston Public Library system provides opportunity to anyone who enters its doors, whether it is a branch or the Central Library in Copley Square,” said John Hailer. “As a life-long Bostonian, coming from a large family of modest means, I have benefited from the library personally. I am honored to serve in this role. I look forward to my continued work with the library board and library administrators.”
About David Leonard
In his current role at the BPL, Leonard is responsible for overseeing the administration of library facilities, human resources and labor relations, events, information technology, web services, the Metro Boston Library Network, and the major projects office. During his time at the BPL Leonard has worked to modernize the library’s IT systems, led capital improvements for the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library, managed the migration to the new Integrated Library System, approved the deployment of the new Pay-for-Print Systems at systemwide locations, and overseen the $78 million Central Library Renovation project, currently underway. He has also served at various times as both the Acting Director of Administration & Finance and separately as acting Chief Financial Officer. Leonard recently began a PhD program in Library Science at Simmons College.
Prior to the Boston Public Library, Leonard spent ten years in IT consulting in positions that spanned both business development and technology consulting focused on a variety of organizations’ tactical and strategic business goals. Most notably, as Vice President of Infrastructure Solutions, a role he held at Collective Technologies and then again at MTI, Leonard was responsible for delivering enterprise technology services and solutions directly to end customers, as well as in partnership with major technology vendors such as Microsoft, EMC, Dell, and Symantec. Leonard has also served as Director of Information Technology for JRI Health, a nonprofit Massachusetts Health and Human Services organization.
Leonard holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University College Dublin. He has also has done post graduate work in Philosophy at Boston College.
About John T. Hailer
John Hailer – a Boston native, born in Roslindale – was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Boston Public Library in March 2013. He has served as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee, bringing decades of asset management and fiscal stewardship to the position.
Mr. Hailer serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Global Asset Management and is responsible for distribution strategies worldwide, overseeing the business activities of the firm’s asset management affiliates in the Americas and Asia.
Mr. Hailer has a long history of community involvement in the city of Boston. He is the Chairman of New England Council Board of Directors. He has served in that position for six years.
He has served on the Board of Directors of The Home for Little Wanderers, the oldest continuous children’s charity in the United States, for more than 20 years – serving as Chairman from 2005 to 2015. He also serves on the board of the Boston Medical Center. He is the Chairman of the Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge, and he serves on the board of Berklee College of Music.

Mr. Hailer has fostered a culture of giving back and community involvement at Natixis. The firm’s philanthropy program – the Ambassador Program – is an innovative partnership between Natixis and local nonprofit organizations that focuses on core social services and plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in Boston.
The Ambassador Program is based on a unique, hands-on approach to corporate philanthropy that features dedicated teams of Natixis senior leaders and employees who work closely with their nonprofit partners. The goal is increased collaboration aimed at building deeper relationships, providing strategic counsel, maximizing resources, generating new ideas and efficiencies, and improving outcomes and experiences.
In 2012, Hailer spearheaded an innovative approach to corporate civic engagement in partnership with the City of Boston under which private companies make a direct and sustained impact on individual Boston schools in need. Through the “Adopt-a-School” program, Natixis has provided support to enhance education and improve the learning environment at the John Winthrop Elementary School in Dorchester.
Mr. Hailer received his BA from Beloit College and is a former member of the Board of Trustees.

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