The Ford Foundation today announced the appointment of Kenneth T. Monteiro as its next vice president, secretary and general counsel of the Board. Mr. Monteiro will succeed Ricardo Castro in the role and also serve as an officer of the foundation.

Monteiro joined the foundation in 1995 as resident counsel and most recently held the position of assistant secretary and deputy general counsel.

“Ken is a respected, experienced leader in our sector, with unmatched diligence and commitment to the foundation’s charitable mission, and we’re very fortunate to have him” said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. “He has the full confidence of the staff and Board and will continue to provide wise and expert counsel in his expanded role.”

Prior to joining the Foundation in 1995, Monteiro was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. He is on the board of Philanthropy New York and serves on the Government Relations Committee of the Non-Profit Coordinating Committee.

“I am thrilled to be able to continue my work at the foundation in this new role in partnership with Darren, the rest of the leadership team and the trustees,” said Mr. Monteiro. “I have dedicated nearly two decades to the social justice mission of the foundation. I want to thank Ricardo Castro, Nancy Feller and Buzz Tenny for the terrific mentoring I received from each of them to prepare me for this responsibility.”

Mr. Monteiro earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law and received his B.A. in International Relations and Political Science from Boston University. He has also served on the boards of the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development and the Lesbian and Gay Law Association Foundation of Greater New York.