Richard Buery, Jr.

Summary

Richard R. Buery, Jr. is a social entrepreneur, chief executive, and public speaker with extensive experience as a nonprofit and public board leader and advisor to corporate leaders. Richard is CEO of Robin Hood, founded by leaders of the hedge fund industry and one of the nation’s leading anti-poverty organizations. Robin Hood raises $140 million annually collaborating with corporate leaders and philanthropists to advance their philanthropic visions. In 2022, Richard was appointed by Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams to co-chair the “New” New York Panel to direct the future of New York’s economy post-pandemic. He was also appointed by the Governor to the New York Emerging Technology Advisory Board and the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council and serves on the City's Rikers Island Commission. He is on the advisory board of a privately held start-up. From 2014-2018, Richard was NYC Deputy Mayor, where he led Pre-K for All, which now offers a free-full day Pre-K seat to every four-year old in New York City and is considered among the most successful public initiatives in the City's recent history. He also founded the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises, supervising its ambitious plan to increase M/WBE utilization from 8% to 30%. Richard’s leadership enabled NYC to double M/WBE contracting in just 2 years, exceed $1 Billion. He launched Schools Out NYC, a free after school program for all middle school students, and led efforts to recruit 1,000 male teachers of color. Additionally, Richard launched the mental health reform initiative, ThriveNYC, managed the City’s relationship with the City University of New York, and supervised a range of city offices and agencies. Richard has served on dozens on nonprofit boards and is currently a trustee of the Kresge Foundation, iMentor, Protect Democracy, Atria Health Partners and iMentor. He served on the transition teams for Mayors Adams and de Blasio, and Comptroller Brad Lander. Richard was CEO of Children’s Aid, one of the nation’s first child welfare agencies, and Achievement First, a network of 41 charter schools. Additionally, he was cofounder of the national nonprofit iMentor. A Public Service Fellow at NYU Wagner, an Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a fellow of the British American Project, Richard has previously taught social entrepreneurship, leadership, and nonprofit financial management at several universities. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and Harvard College.