Charlton Reynders, III Bio

In the world of dogs, Charlton “Chat” Reynders, III stepped into the role of President of the Board of Governors in May 2018. His family has a long history in dogs, with his father Charlton Reynders, Jr. being a Westminster Kennel Club Governor Emeritus and his mother, Mrs. Knowlton “Nonie” Reynders continuing to breed Norwich terriers under the Highwood prefix. A line of dogs that her mother began in 1949. 

Professionally, Chat brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management and social venture investing to his work as Chairman and CEO of Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management. His passion for forward-thinking investment strategy rooted in fundamentals has provided a guidepost for his success to date. Chat has been featured in numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Forbes.

In addition to his leadership in the traditional investment management world, Chat has structured and funded public/private partnerships that have brought more than $150 million in revenues to leading cultural institutions around the world – projects that have won numerous awards. In this vein, he has for decades produced socially oriented IMAX films including Dolphins, which was produced in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation and garnered an Academy Award nomination in 2000, and Coral Reef Adventure, which received the largest grant in the history of the Informal Science Division of the National Science Foundation.

Chat’s focus on climate change also led him to his current role as a Director on the Board of the MacGillivray Freeman Educational Foundation (MFEF), an organization committed to increasing awareness of the delicate state of our oceans and environment. Using the power of film, television, new media and grassroots education, The MFEF strives to change the way people see and value the natural world — and to motivate action to restore it. Chat previously served as Executive Director of The Whale Conservation Institute, the nation’s leading independent cetacean research center, which was founded under a grant from the MacArthur Foundation.

Chat graduated from Princeton University with a degree in history. In addition to being a Director at the MacGillivray Freeman Educational Foundation, he is the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Brookwood School.