The Norton Museum of Arts has named art collector and business leader Kelly Williams as the new chair of its board of trustees.
“We know Kelly Williams will be an incredible leader during this pivotal moment at the Norton, helping us to continue building upon the Museum’s strategic plan, attract visitors from around the world, showcase first-rate exhibitions, and deepen our role as a cultural hub for the community,” said Ghislain d’Humières, the Norton’s Kenneth C. Griffin director and CEO, in a statement.
A resident of the island, she has served on the Norton’s board of trustees since May 2020 and as Vice Chair since 2022. From 2023 to 2025, Williams led the board’s works of arts committee and communication committee.
“My greatest wish is for the Norton to become a hive of activity in our community, to be the place that people most want to be, and for the rest of the art world to be talking about what is going on at the Norton,” Williams said in a statement.
Williams, who graduated magna cum laude from Union College before receiving her juris doctor from New York University School of Law, currently is the CEO of the Williams Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit focused on funding programs to further opportunities for women, minorities and underserved communities.
She founded the Customized Fund Investment Group at The Prudential Insurance Company in 1999 and served on CFIP’s senior leadership until 2019. During her time in the financial services industry, she was named among “The Most Powerful Women in Finance” in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
She also is the founding chair of the Private Equity Woman Investor Network, and since 2015, has served on the board of The Greenbrier Companies.
A passionate supporter of the arts, Williams is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where she served as its chair from 2021-2023. She also served on the boards of the Nantucket Historical Association, The Olana Partnership, Union College and the New York School of Interior Design.
A longtime philanthropist, Williams had previously served on The National Philanthropic Trust’s Board of Trustees, one of the largest managers of donor-advised funds in the U.S. She was also the vice chair of the board of the Robert Toigo Foundation.
Williams succeeds Bruce Gendelman, who had served as chair since 2019. He led the board during the museum landmark 2019 expansion and served as Interim Director and CEO of the museum in 2020, as the museum dealt with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we welcome Kelly, we are also grateful to Bruce Gendelman for his tireless work and boundless dedication to the Norton,” said d’Humières in a statement. “He has been a steady hand during a time of great change not only for the Norton, but for our community and for the arts.”
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Norton Museum of Art announces Kelly Williams as new board of trustees chair
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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