News Release
Former Wall Street Executive Kennemur to Lead Business Partnership Foundation
For immediate release:
July 14, 2008
Columbia, SC
Mary Kennemur, former First Vice President and
Regional Managing Director for Merrill Lynch and an alumna of the University of South Carolina’s
Moore School of Business, has been named executive director of the Business Partnership Foundation
(BPF) at the University of South Carolina.
Dean Hildy Teegen announced the appointment. "Mary Kennemur exemplifies the professional achievement and commitment to the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina that will allow the Business Partnership Foundation to meet its fullest potential in supporting the strategic direction for our school," said Dean Teegen. "As a distinguished alumna of the Moore School and a long-serving member of our board, Mary’s intimate understanding of our school and its needs makes her the perfect leader for our foundation at this critical juncture. We look forward to working closely with the Business Partnership Foundation as we bring the Moore School to new heights."
"This is an excellent appointment," said Dr. Jerome (Jerry) D. Odom, executive director of USC Foundations. "Mary Kennemur is a ‘big picture’ individual who will quickly grasp the importance of all University Foundations working together to further the mission of the University of South Carolina."
"We are fortunate to have someone of Mary’s experience and talent level join the Moore School team," said BPF President Jim Hodges, former governor of South Carolina and CEO of Hodges Consulting Group in Columbia. "She will play a key role in the Moore School’s outreach efforts to key business leaders in and out of South Carolina."
Kennemur was a 1975 Presidential Honors Graduate of the business school and was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2001.
Kennemur managed $90 billion in assets for Merrill Lynch during her tenure as Southeast Regional Managing Director. She was one of only nine Regional Directors nationwide and the only female at that time. She was also responsible for leadership development for all Regional Directors across the Americas. Earlier in her career, she worked for South Carolina National Bank, Petro Lewis Corporation in Billings, Montana, and for offices of Merrill Lynch in Colorado, Florida, Indiana and New York.
After 25 years on Wall Street, Kennemur said, "giving back to the community" is motivating for her.
Kennemur was elected a trustee of the BPF in 2005. In addition, she was the first female member of the South Carolina Retirement Systems Investment Panel. She currently serves on the Regional Board of First National Bank of South Carolina and on the board of United Way of the Midlands, as well as a member of the Advisory Treasury Services Committee of Palmetto Health. She has also served with the USC Development Foundation, the Governor’s School of Math and Science, the Coastal Conservation League, and the USC Women’s Basketball Mentor Program.
Her proudest recent achievement, Kennemur said, is co-chairing this year’s United Way of the Midlands fundraising effort, which resulted in that organization’s most successful campaign ever.
Now Kennemur turns her keen financial eye to the Moore School. "For the business school to maintain preeminence, it is important to build a significant endowment and capital base in order to recruit and retain faculty and to create facilities that will attract these bright students," she said.
"We have a wonderful story to tell and an exceptional product," Kennemur added. "Dean Teegen has an incredible vision for the future of our University. I look forward to partnering with her, with colleagues across the University and with supporters to make that vision a reality."
One aspect of the role that "excites" Kennemur is the education of "this next generation of business leaders who will have a broader focus than money… they will work toward goals such as environmental sustainability and economic inclusion." Those goals for the global economy are in line with the Moore School’s new strategic direction of Sustainable Enterprise and Development, announced earlier this year.
Gail Crouch
July 2008