Obama Foundation Announces David Simas as Chief Executive Officer

December 19, 2016 at 4:20 PM CST

Today, the Obama Foundation announced David Simas as Chief Executive Officer. Simas will join the Obama Foundation leadership team, including Chairman Marty Nesbitt and Executive Director Robbin Cohen, to lead the Foundation’s work to create the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

David Simas said, “In the year ahead, the Obama Foundation will continue the important work of creating a Presidential Center that inspires citizens and communities to take on big challenges. I am honored to be serving the President and First Lady and thrilled to be a part of working to fulfill this mission.”

Marty Nesbitt, Chair of the Obama Foundation said, “David is an invaluable addition to our team as we enter an important year for the Foundation. Together with our neighbors on the South Side, we are going to build a world-class Presidential Center that engages people to make change, and we’re thrilled to have David with us in this endeavor.”

A Taunton, Massachusetts native, David Simas received a bachelor's degree in political science from Stonehill College and a doctor of law degree from Boston College Law School. In 2007, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. In 2009, Simas joined the Obama Administration as a Deputy Assistant to the President, working with senior advisors David Axelrod and David Plouffe. He then served as Director of Opinion Research for President Obama's re-election. Simas most recently served as Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach. He lives in Washington with his wife Shauna and two daughters, Payton and Rowan.