For immediate release

Contact: Katherine Boury (206) 726-3547

SEATTLE, February 22, 2010 — The American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties has announced the selection of Cynthia Chirot as its new chief operating officer.

“We are truly pleased to have Cynthia,” said Randy Hutson, CEO of the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties. “She brings outstanding leadership skills from the private sector and a passion for our humanitarian mission which will ensure excellence in all areas of Red Cross service."

Cynthia Chirot joined the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties as its new chief operating officer in December of 2009.  Cynthia will provide leadership for programs, operations, and financial management for the chapter. Cynthia's previous nonprofit leadership roles include chief operating officer at the Washington Women's Foundation and ceo of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network.

Cynthia was a bank executive for 28 years where she was executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and vice president of product development at Seafirst/Bank of America. Ms. Chirot has served on and chaired a wide array of civic and charitable organization boards. She is active in the Downtown Seattle Rotary and serves on the board of directors for Capitol Hill Housing, City University of Seattle and PeaceTrees Vietnam, where she currently is board president. Past community service includes chair, City of Seattle Housing Levy Oversight Board and co-chair of the U. W. Business Economic Development Center Board and board member of the Pacific Coast Banking School Board.

Ms. Chirot holds an MBA from the University of Washington and a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, a civic leadership development program of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.  She currently resides in the Capitol Hill area.

"I am excited to be part of the Red Cross," Chirot said. "The Red Cross plays such an important role in preparing our community and keeping our friends and family safe.  I look forward to continuing those efforts.”

The American Red Cross is a non-profit, humanitarian agency dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world.  For more information, visit www.seattleredcross.org.