New member joins Habitat for Humanity International’s board of directors

ATLANTA (Nov. 19, 2014) – Habitat for Humanity International has elected global management consultant Alexandre Gouvea to serve as a member of its board of directors.

Gouvea is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company where he is currently co-leading the firm’s work in Brazil’s social and public sectors. He has worked with financial and construction businesses in Europe and the Americas to strengthen their operational models and productivity levels for more than 20 years. Gouvea has collaborated with Habitat prior to joining its board of directors, including offering his expertise to Habitat for Humanity São Paulo in 2013 and providing disaster response support to Habitat for Humanity Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

“I have been a longtime supporter of Habitat’s work,” said Gouvea. “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and look forward to serving Habitat as we all work together to end poverty housing worldwide.”

Gouvea started his career working at his family’s housing repair and construction company serving Rio de Janeiro’s low-income population. It was during that time he was first introduced to the need for decent and affordable housing. Gouvea received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles where he serves as the vice president of school relations for the Brazil chapter.

“Alexandre’s business acumen and strategic expertise will be a valuable addition to Habitat’s board,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “His demonstrated heart for our mission and knowledge will strengthen Habitat as we work to make our vision of affordable housing for all a reality.”

Gouvea recently attended his first board meeting in Atlanta where Habitat announced it has surpassed 1 million families served worldwide through its mission since 1976. Habitat for Humanity’s annual report for fiscal year 2014, “Because of this house,” is available online at www.habitat.org/support/annual-report/2014.

Habitat’s board of directors is responsible for establishing policy and guiding the organization’s efforts to construct, rehabilitate, repair and improve housing in partnership with low-income families in more than 70 countries around the world. Habitat board members volunteer for two-year terms that can be renewed up to four times.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org.