Exec at Natixis John Hailer Appointed to Boston Public Library Position

John Hailer, the interim leader of the Boston Public Library system, is expected to be appointed Thursday. Hailer’s appointment replaces Barbara Tyson and marks his return to leadership after six years away from his alma mater.

Hailer is a senior executive at Natixis Investment Managers Boston and served as president of Natixis Global Asset Management North America. He currently serves on the boards of Invest for Kids, City Year Greater Boston, and United Way of Massachusetts Bay.

Hailer grew up in Needham and graduated from Boston College with both a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA. He went on to earn his doctorate in education at Harvard University and served as an associate professor at the school.

John Hailer began his career at Boston Public Schools, where he was a teacher, principal, assistant principal, and superintendent. Before joining Natixis, he worked there until becoming senior vice president of finance and administration at the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. In a statement, Mayor Marty Walsh said he was “confident that John will make a great addition to the Boston Public Library team.”

John Hailer will be tasked with leading the nearly 400-branch library system as it continues to face its budget deficit. According to the Boston Globe, the system lost millions of dollars during the recession and has seen its budget decline by about $4 million over the past decade.

The system is in talks with its unions to attempt a compromise on pension reform. It is also considering closing branches and partnering with nonprofits to keep them open.

The last decade has been rocky for the BPL’s leadership. Barbara A.Tyson, who was at the helm for nearly three years, stepped down in January after it was discovered that a Maxfield Parrish painting on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts had been missing for years. She was also criticized for increasing executive pay at the library.

The search for a new chief librarian and CEO began in February, and Hailer was chosen during an interview process with the Friends of Boston Public Library’s executive search committee.

John Hailer, the interim leader of the Boston Public Library system, is expected to be appointed Thursday. Hailer’s appointment replaces Barbara Tyson and marks his return to leadership after six years away from his alma mater. Hailer is a senior executive at Natixis Investment Managers Boston and served as president of Natixis Global Asset Management…