The name Kristi Mitchem may not be familiar to you, even though she has just been announced as the president and CEO of the Gladstone, N.J.-based U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.
But you may well know of her daughter, Caroline Mawhinney, number 37 on the FEI jumping Under 25 rankings. Her mother’s interest in high performance equestrian sport stems from Caroline’s riding career. The family lives in California, but Kristi spends the winters at Triple M Farm in Wellington, Fla., home of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Caroline has participated in several U.S. Equestrian Federation High Performance Pathway Programs, including the North American Youth Championships, where she earned several podium finishes. She has twice represented the U.S. at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final in the Netherlands, winning gold medals.
“As an avid supporter of U.S. equestrian teams and athletes, I’m thrilled to take on the role of president and CEO of the USET Foundation and excited to leverage my work experience in a way that will contribute to the sport,” stated Kristi.
“I’m extremely grateful for everything that the USET Foundation has provided to my daughter, Caroline, and I’m delighted that I can give back.”
Kristi Mitchem
Kristi is replacing W. James McNerney at the USET Foundation in the roles he served for seven years. He remains as chairman of the Board of Trustees, a position he has held since 2019.
As USEF’s philanthropic partner, the foundation provides the resources to maintain U.S. equestrian competitive excellence on the world stage. The new president/CEO will be responsible for furthering support of that mission.
“Kristi brings a remarkable blend of passion for high-performance sport and a proven track record in business and financial leadership,” said her predecessor.
“Her appointment marks an exciting generational shift that will engage a new wave of donors and enthusiasts who share our dedication to the development of talented, hard-working athletes through the pathway programs. As we look ahead to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, I have every confidence that Kristi’s vision and expertise will propel the USET Foundation and our United States Equestrian Teams to new heights, ensuring our athletes are supported at every level in this country’s quest for sustained competitive excellence on the world stage.”
Kristi was elected to the USET Foundation Board of Trustees in June 2022 and the executive committee in January 2024. She also has been an active member of its finance and investment committees since 2022.
One of three managing partners at &Partners, she was previously the CEO and head of the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Global Asset Management division. Prior to that, she served as CEO of Wells Fargo Asset Management and has more than 20 years experience in related roles at State Street Corporation, BlackRock and Goldman Sachs.
“Kristi’s knowledge of the sport coupled with her business acumen have demonstrated that she is prepared to propel the organization forward, particularly as we look toward a home Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” said USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie B. Jenkins.
During Kristi’s time on the board, Bonnie continued, “she has gained a keen understanding of the USET Foundation’s important role in the sport and the expenses associated with competing at the highest levels. Through her daughter, she has also experienced the thrill of riding for the team. She understands firsthand that our athletes and U.S. equestrian teams require significant resources to maintain competitive excellence now and in the future. I’m very much looking forward to working with her to bolster and extend our mission.”
Kristi is especially keen to increase awareness of, and access to, USEF Pathway Programs and grow the endowment to ensure long-term support for U.S. equestrian athletes and teams.
“The Pathway is what initially piqued my interest in supporting the USET Foundation,” she explained.
“I thought it was fantastic that there were groups of individuals that would help young riders like Caroline progress from the junior levels to the senior teams. Ultimately, thanks to the guidance of the Pathway, some of the most talented riders go on to represent the U.S. on the world stage, whether that is in Nations Cup competitions or at Olympic and Paralympic events.”
Kristi earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College and a master’s degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and an Aspen Financial Fellow. She and her husband, Tom Mawhinney, have three daughters.