USET Foundation Elects Kristi Mitchem as President and CEO

The USET Foundation Board of Trustees has elected Kristi Mitchem to serve as its President and CEO effective September 1, 2024. She will replace W. James McNerney in these roles while McNerney, following seven years in the President and CEO positions, will remain Chairman of the USET Foundation Board of Trustees, a position he’s held since 2019.

As the philanthropic partner to US Equestrian (USEF), the USET Foundation is responsible for helping provide the necessary resources to maintain U.S. equestrian competitive excellence on the world stage. In the President and CEO roles, Mitchem will be responsible for furthering support of this mission.

“Kristi [Mitchem] brings a remarkable blend of passion for high-performance sport and a proven track record in business and financial leadership,” said McNerney. “Her appointment marks an exciting generational shift that will engage a new wave of donors and enthusiasts who share our dedication to the development of talented, hard-working athletes through the pathway programs. As we look ahead to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, I have every confidence that Kristi's vision and expertise will propel the USET Foundation and our United States Equestrian Teams to new heights, ensuring our athletes are supported at every level in this country’s quest for sustained competitive excellence on the world stage."

Mitchem was elected to the USET Foundation Board of Trustees in June 2022 and the Executive Committee in January 2024. She has also been an active member of its Finance and Investment Committees since 2022.

Professionally, Mitchem is one of three Managing Partners at &Partners. She was previously the CEO and head of the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Global Asset Management (BMO GAM), BMO’s asset management division. Prior to that, she served as the CEO of Wells Fargo Asset Management and has more than 20 years of experience in related roles at State Street Corporation, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs.

Mitchem’s passion for high performance equestrian sport stems from her daughter Caroline Mawhinney’s riding career. A talented up-and-coming show jumping athlete, Mawhinney has participated in several USEF High Performance Pathway Programs including the North American Youth Championships (NAYC) where she earned several podium finishes. In addition, she has twice represented the U.S. at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final in Kronenberg, The Netherlands, taking home gold medals.

“Kristi’s knowledge of the sport coupled with her business acumen have demonstrated that she is prepared to propel the organization forward, particularly as we look toward a home Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” said USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie B. Jenkins. “In the four years Kristi has been on our Board of Trustees, she has gained a keen understanding of the USET Foundation’s important role in the sport and the expenses associated with competing at the highest levels. Through her daughter, she has also experienced the thrill of riding for the team. She understands firsthand that our athletes and U.S. equestrian teams require significant resources to maintain competitive excellence now and in the future. I’m very much looking forward to working with her to bolster and extend our mission.”

“As an avid supporter of U.S. equestrian teams and athletes, I’m thrilled to take on the role of President and CEO of the USET Foundation and excited to leverage my work experience in a way that will contribute to the sport,” stated Mitchem. “I’m extremely grateful for everything that the USET Foundation has provided to my daughter Caroline, and I’m delighted that I can give back.

“I aim to continue Jim [McNerney]’s legacy,” added Mitchem. “He’s done an amazing job serving the Foundation and promoting the sport in an inclusive way that binds people to the organization’s mission.”

Mitchem is especially keen to increase awareness of and access to USEF Pathway Programs and to grow the endowment to ensure long-term support for U.S. equestrian athletes and teams.

“The Pathway is what initially piqued my interest in supporting the USET Foundation,” explained Mitchem. “I thought it was fantastic that there were groups of individuals that would help young riders like Caroline progress from the junior levels to the senior teams. Ultimately, thanks to the guidance of the Pathway, some of the most talented riders go on to represent the U.S. on the world stage, whether that is in Nations Cup competitions or at Olympic and Paralympic events.”

Mitchem earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College and a master’s degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and an Aspen Financial Fellow. Mitchem and her husband, Tom Mawhinney, reside in Woodside, California, and have three daughters. She spends winters in Wellington, FL, at their Triple M Farm. 

For more information about the USET Foundation, please visit USET.org.