Episcopal Social Services of New York

Elizabeth McCarthy is named new Executive Director

The Board of Directors of Episcopal Social Services of New York (ESS) unanimously approved the appointment of Elizabeth McCarthy as Executive Director of the 179-year-old, $40 million human services agency. She will be succeeding Robert H. Gutheil who announced his retirement and will be stepping down at the end of the year.

Ms. McCarthy has served as Chief Operating Officer at MercyFirst, which provides care for over 4,000 children, teenagers and families in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties through Family Support and After-School Programs, Foster Homes and Adoption Services, and Community Group Homes.

“We are thrilled that Elizabeth will be our new leader,” said ESS Board President Kenneth Kramer. “The Board looks forward to working with her as ESS continues its mission of caring for New York’s neediest families.”

Ms. McCarthy joined MercyFirst in 2004 and has had oversight for all of the agency’s programs, including Foster Boarding Home programs, Residential Campus and Group Home programs, Preventive Services and After School Programs, and Medical Services. Prior to this she was the Senior Vice President for Programs at Safe Horizon, a nonprofit agency serving victims of violence and abuse. Ms. McCarthy also served in the New York City Department of Homeless Services and the Mayor’s Office of Operations. She has an MBA in Public and Nonprofit Management from Yale University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College.