BOSTON, Mass. – The Trustees of Reservations today announced that Nathan Hutto, the organization’s current Chief People and Culture Officer, has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO). He had been serving an interim COO since January 2025.

In his new role, Hutto will build and accelerate various systems to help the organization’s performance. He will lead The Trustees’ overall statewide operations, with business operations, education, engagement, and stewardship units reporting to him. The People and Culture Team will also continue to report to him.

“Nathan’s people-forward approach to strategic operations paired with his ability to solve critical systems challenges to increase our impact make him a perfect fit for this role,” said Trustees President and CEO Katie Theoharides. “His lifelong passion for our mission and his commitment to evolving our organization to meet the challenges of the moment comes at a critical time as we embark on a new strategic plan that will increase our conservation impact across the state, welcome more visitors, and elevate stewardship and care for our special places over the long term.”

“As a long-time member and visitor of The Trustees over many years, it’s a dream to serve as a leader of such a high-impact and relevant organization,” Hutto said. “I’m grateful to Katie and my team for the opportunity to step up into this important role.”

Hutto came to The Trustees in 2024 to lead the People and Culture team through a revamp of its human resource functions. Prior to The Trustees, he served as Chief People Officer at LabCentral, a non-profit life science incubator. He also served as COO and Chief People Officer at Last Mile Health, a global health non-profit that partners with governments to build and scale community health systems across Africa. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Turkmenistan, Hutto also worked in humanitarian programming in post-conflict Kosovo and supported operations across several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.  has a Ph.D. in Social Policy Analysis from Columbia University, where he studied disparities in maternal and child health. He also earned a Master of Social Work from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Hutto is also committed to serving his community as a member of the Milton School Committee and a member of its town meeting. He and his family reside in Milton.

More About The Trustees

Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 130 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is one of the oldest preservation and conservation organizations, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our more than 120 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming over 2 million guests annually.

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