Making Her Move: Meet the
New CEO of Faith in the Future
Irene Horstmann Hannan successfully managed billions of dollars
in banking. Now she’s set her sights on Catholic education.
W
hen Irene Horstmann Hannan decided to
switch careers after 25 years in banking, she
was unsure what role to seek next. She did, however,
have a few general criteria in mind:
First, she wanted to work in the nonprofit sector, in
which she had recently managed a $6 billion loan
portfolio as a Senior Vice President of Citizens Bank.
Second, she sought to make an impact through
education — a passion she cultivated as a member
of the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy under Mayor
Michael Nutter.
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in the Future. Based in Philadelphia, the organization
operates the 17 high schools and four schools of special
education within AOPS.
“The people here made me realize why I want to be
here — and why I believe I can help impact Faith in the
Future’s success,” says Horstmann Hannan, who joined
as CEO in August. “The mission is so strong, and it’s
such a relevant message for today, impacting students,
teachers, administrators, and board members. That’s
what excites me most.”
And finally, Horstmann Hannan wanted a role in which
she could give back to her local community, as she had
as a member of the Board of Girl Scouts of Eastern
Pennsylvania. Horstmann Hannan now leads the organization in
executing that mission: preparing students to be active
citizens by equipping them with strong values and
improved academics. She says she has been especially
impressed by the organization’s modern approach
to education.
As it turns out, her next career was seeking her out as
well. While transitioning out of her role at Citizens Bank,
Horstmann Hannan was approached about joining Faith “There is no other organization doing what Faith in the
Future is doing,” she says. “The fact that we are small,
nimble, and flexible has brought a new perspective on