Kirk succeeds longtime chairman Edward Smith, who will continue
to serve in an ex-officio role with the Head Of The Charles Regatta

Cambridge, MA – The Head Of The Charles® Regatta (HOCR), the world’s largest two-day rowing competition, announced today that its board of directors has elected Kathy Kirk as Chairman of the Regatta, beginning in 2016. Kirk succeeds Edward Smith, who has led the board since 1997 and been a central figure in the running of the Regatta for the majority of its 51 years of operation.

Smith will continue to support the board and the Head Of The Charles Regatta in an ex-officio role. He was honored for his decades of work with a trophy in his name at the Regatta’s 50th anniversary in 2015.

“For the past 25 years, Ed Smith has provided the guiding leadership for the Regatta as our master strategist,” said Fred Schoch, the Executive Director of the HOCR. “Moreover, he has been my personal mentor and friend throughout his tenure and has helped me achieve many important goals as executive director. Ed cares deeply about rowing and the Regatta’s place in history and I am grateful that he will continue to contribute for the foreseeable future.”

Kirk has served as a Managing Director of the Head Of The Charles Regatta since 2008. She is an alumnus of Harvard Radcliffe Lightweight crew team and active member of numerous charitable and for-profit institutions in New England.

“The appointment of Kathy Kirk to chairman is a timely and exciting move for the Regatta,” Schoch continued. “She brings years of experience, commitment and passion to the post and will be a strong voice for the next phase of our growth. A long-time sculler, Kathy loves working with volunteers and solving problems. She will be a fantastic and visionary leader for the Regatta.”

One of the world’s preeminent rowing competitions, the HOCR attracts close to 11,000 competitors and more than 400,000 spectators annually. The 52nd Head Of The Charles Regatta will take place October 22-23, 2016. For more information on HOCR, visit www.hocr.org.

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About the Head Of The Charles Regatta
Preparing for the 52nd race, the Head Of The Charles Regatta is the world’s largest two-day regatta, attracting more than 11,000 rowers and 400,000 spectators to the banks of the Charles River. Racing takes place on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The Regatta attracts youth, collegiate, masters, para-rowing, international, world champion, and Olympic athletes competing in 61 events. Follow HOCR on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Media Contact
Kevin Flight, Elevate Communications: 617-861-3657, kflight@elevatecom.com