Gerald Francis to serve on board of directors with 13 other area business leaders

BOSTON – June 8, 2017 – Joining 13 other executives from eastern Massachusetts, Keolis Commuter Services President Gerald Francis was recently appointed to serve on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Keolis Commuter Services (KCS) is the MBTA’s partner that operates the commuter rail.

“It’s an honor to join such a respected group of leaders on the Board of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce,” said Francis. “This influential group has such a positive impact on the communities we serve as operators of the MBTA commuter rail. As a long-term partner, I look forward to sharing my experience as a transit professional in a way that further enhances the region’s infrastructure and helps achieve the Chamber’s goals.”

For nearly 35 years, Gerald has led major transit and transportation systems, including commuter rail, heavy rail, light rail, freight rail and paratransit service operations. He joined KCS from TASI – Caltrain, where he served as General Manager for Herzog Transit Services. Prior to that role, he was Deputy General Manager for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in the nation’s capital.

In the greater Boston area, KCS employs approximately 2,250 people, which includes the addition of nearly 300 new jobs since the company started operating the commuter rail in July 2014. KCS is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and in 2016 Keolis North America, the parent company of KCS, moved its headquarters to downtown Boston.

“I am thrilled to welcome our newly elected directors to the Chamber’s board,” said James E. Rooney, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber. “It is an exciting time for our organization as we embrace our transformed mission, purpose and vision, and as we launch a number of new programs and initiatives. These new additions to our Board each have incredible individual talents to add to this important work, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with them and our existing members to grow the Chamber’s impact even further.”

Other members recently elected to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors include:

John E. Butterworth, Executive Vice President/Partner, CBRE
Geoff Cottrill, President, MullenLowe Boston
Susan Esper, Partner, Deloitte
Patrick Gilligan, Executive Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Product, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Vicary M. Graham, Chair, BNY Mellon New England and President for Wealth Management in New England
Amy Latimer, President, TD Garden
Jose Luis Martinez de Larramendi, President, Primark U.S. Corp
Kevin Rasch, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, MassMutual Financial Group
Darryl Settles, President/Managing Partner, Catalyst Ventures Development and Proprietor, Darryl’s Bar & Kitchen
Mike Shires, Head of Corporate Services, Shire
Jane Steinmetz, Boston Office Managing Principal, New England Markets Leader, Ernst & Young
Robert Sullivan, Managing Partner, Korn Ferry
James Vallee, Partner, Nixon Peabody

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